2021 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
36,676 MOT tests on the 2021 Ford Ranger are in this dataset, and 86.9% of them passed. Against pick-up trucks of a similar age (11.8% fail rate), the 2021 Ranger comes out 1.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (5.7%) and lighting & signalling (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are coil spring, headlamp aim and tread depth — coil spring alone was recorded 1,737 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.5% in the 0-30k band and 17.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.0-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 19.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 11.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 5.7% | 2,106 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 1,750 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.4% | 1,230 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.6% | 960 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 636 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 552 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coil spring | 1,737 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 1,489 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 685 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 549 |
| 5 | Washers | 464 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 400 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 19.5% | 7,139 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.6% | 4,264 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.6% | 2,430 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.5% | 2,028 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 1,415 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 1,279 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 8,395 | 8.5% |
| 30-60k | 17,932 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 7,892 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 2,008 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 363 | 19.8% |
| 150k+ | 86 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84 | 11.9% |
| 2023 | 521 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 17,731 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 18,321 | 14.8% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Ranger
On a 2021 Ranger, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (5.7% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2021 Ford Rangers pass their MOT?
86.9% of the 36,676 2021 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Ranger?
Suspension, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.8%).
Does the 2021 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.5% in the 0-30k band to 17.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 36,676 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.