2023 Ford Ranger — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 Ford Ranger passed 91.2% of its 571 recorded MOT tests. Pick-up trucks of a similar age fail at 9.1%, so the 2023 Ranger sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.5%) and tyres (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.0% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 11.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.5% | 26 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.3% | 19 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 11 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.4% | 8 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 7 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.2% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 33 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 14 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 7 |
| 5 | Washers | 6 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 5 |
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 | 11.0% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 26 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 26 |
| 4 | Other defects | 2.3% | 13 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 13 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.6% | 9 |
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 | 234 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 244 | 8.6% |
| 60-90k | 77 | 13.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 536 | 9.3% |
| Petrol | 35 | 0.0% |
What to check before buying a 2023 Ranger
On a 2023 Ranger, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.3% 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.
- Suspension (1.9% 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.
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 2023 Ford Rangers pass their MOT?
91.2% of the 571 2023 Ford Ranger MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 Ford Ranger?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.5% of tests, followed by tyres (3.3%).
Does the 2023 Ranger get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 571 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.