2021 Ford Tourneo Custom — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2021 Ford Tourneo Custom passed 84.0% of its 263 recorded MOT tests. MPVs of a similar age fail 10.5% of the time, so this is 5.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (8.0%) and tyres (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and tyre pressure monitoring system — wipers alone was recorded 12 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.3% versus 12.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 20.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 8.0% | 21 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.5% | 17 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 10 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 8 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.0% | 8 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.1% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 12 |
| 2 | Washers | 12 |
| 3 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 10 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 7 |
| 6 | Joints | 7 |
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 | 20.5% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 30 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.6% | 20 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.8% | 10 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.7% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.3% | 6 |
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 | 101 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 96 | 16.7% |
| 60-90k | 47 | 21.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 109 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 119 | 15.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Tourneo Custom
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 8.0% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (8.0% 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.
- Tyres (6.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2021 Ford Tourneo Customs pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 263 2021 Ford Tourneo Custom MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Ford Tourneo Custom?
Visibility, recorded in 8.0% of tests, followed by tyres (6.5%).
Does the 2021 Tourneo Custom get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 21.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 263 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.