Ford Explorer
From 1,126 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, body and cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 71 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 71 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 36 |
| body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 31 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 29 |
| a battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier | 26 |
| 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 | 26 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 25 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 22 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 16 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 16 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21.8% of Explorer failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 23.8% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £125.
Ford Explorer on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 89 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 88. At this rate, roughly 10 years until none remain. Now at 14% of its peak (6,270 in 2001 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 179 | 701 | +1 | -9 | -8 |
| 2025 Q2 | 186 | 702 | +0 | -19 | -19 |
| 2025 Q1 | 204 | 703 | +0 | -27 | -27 |
| 2024 Q4 | 217 | 717 | +0 | -34 | -34 |
| 2024 Q3 | 227 | 741 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
| 2024 Q2 | 234 | 751 | +0 | -14 | -14 |
| 2024 Q1 | 240 | 759 | +0 | -13 | -13 |
| 2023 Q4 | 263 | 749 | +1 | -15 | -14 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 73.4% | a battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1999 | 73.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point |
| 1998 | 63.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point |
Typical mileage
Half of all Explorers tested had between 70,812 and 132,869 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 96,018 median miles, the Explorer has 0.024 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 Explorer MOT pass rate?
The Ford Explorer has a 77.4% MOT pass rate based on 1,126 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Explorer?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Explorer is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 71 failures. Other common issues include the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired.
How many Ford Explorers are on UK roads?
There are 179 Ford Explorers currently licensed on UK roads, with 701 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Explorer at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Explorer is 96,018 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 70,812 and 132,869 miles.
Buying a used Explorer?
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 77.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £125 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.