2020 Ford Tourneo Custom — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,022 MOT tests, the 2020 Ford Tourneo Custom recorded an 89.0% pass rate. MPVs of a similar age fail at 11.1%, so the 2020 Tourneo Custom sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.1%) and tyres (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, headlamp aim and brake pads — wipers alone was recorded 23 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 15.6% in the 150k+ band, a 7.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 15.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 2.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 13.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 52 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.9% | 40 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.4% | 35 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 29 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.1% | 21 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 23 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 20 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 17 |
| 5 | Washers | 14 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 12 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.5% | 158 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.6% | 149 |
| 3 | Visibility | 7.0% | 72 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.4% | 65 |
| 5 | Other defects | 4.7% | 48 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 39 |
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 | 247 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 299 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 184 | 10.3% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 14.3% |
| 120-150k | 59 | 10.2% |
| 150k+ | 135 | 15.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 88 | 2.3% |
| 2022 | 104 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 260 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 277 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 293 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Tourneo Custom
On a 2020 Tourneo Custom, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (3.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2020 Ford Tourneo Customs pass their MOT?
89.0% of the 1,022 2020 Ford Tourneo Custom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Tourneo Custom?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by tyres (3.9%).
Does the 2020 Tourneo Custom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.7% in the 0-30k band to 15.6% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,022 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.