Ford Auto Trail
From 386 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a tyre over ten years old is fitted to a front steered axle of a bus, coach and or any axle on a minibus with a single wheel fitment. The top issue, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, caused 18 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 18 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 10 |
| a tyre over ten years old is fitted to a front steered axle of a bus, coach, or any axle on a minibus with a single wheel fitment | 8 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 7 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 6 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 4 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 4 |
| a reversing lamp inoperative | 3 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 3 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 2 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 26.2% of Auto Trail failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £69.
Ford Auto Trail on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 6 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 6. Now at 79.1% of its peak (296 in 2015 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 214 | 20 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2025 Q2 | 208 | 25 | +0 | -2 | -2 |
| 2025 Q1 | 192 | 43 | +0 | -0 | +4 |
| 2024 Q4 | 186 | 45 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2024 Q3 | 215 | 20 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2024 Q2 | 218 | 16 | +0 | -0 | +6 |
| 2024 Q1 | 198 | 30 | +0 | -7 | -7 |
| 2023 Q4 | 191 | 44 | +0 | -1 | -1 |
3 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto Trail Tribute T 625 | Diesel | 71 | 38% |
| Auto Trail Tribute T 720 | Diesel | 66 | 35% |
| Auto Trail Tribute T 620 | Diesel | 51 | 27% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 86.5% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm |
| 2013 | 84.4% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2012 | 78.8% | a tyre over ten years old is fitted to a front steered axle of a bus, coach, or any axle on a minibus with a single wheel fitment, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
Typical mileage
Half of all Auto Trails tested had between 19,198 and 36,658 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 27,159 median miles, the Auto Trail has 0.059 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Ford models
| Ford Fiesta | 72.9% |
| Ford Focus | 74.7% |
| Ford Transit | 70.4% |
| Ford Kuga | 82.2% |
| Ford Mondeo | 73.8% |
Common questions
What is the Ford Auto Trail MOT pass rate?
The Ford Auto Trail has a 83.9% MOT pass rate based on 386 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Auto Trail?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Auto Trail is a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, which caused 18 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many Ford Auto Trails are on UK roads?
There are 214 Ford Auto Trails currently licensed on UK roads, with 20 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Auto Trail at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Auto Trail is 27,159 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 19,198 and 36,658 miles.
Buying a used Auto Trail?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 83.9% pass rate and an average repair bill of £69 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.