Ford Mustang
From 24,776 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Mustangs fare better: 2021 models pass at 90.2% vs 86.7% for 2005.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, parking brake inoperative on one side and a tyre cords visible or damaged. The top issue, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, caused 421 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.
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 421 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 322 |
| a tyre cords visible or damaged | 295 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 270 |
| parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 229 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 218 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 211 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 175 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 168 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 154 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22.4% of Mustang failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 44.7% 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 £121.
Ford Mustang on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 736 newly registered in the past year with 81 leaving, a net gain of 655. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 12,252 | 1,751 | +229 | -27 | +202 |
| 2025 Q2 | 12,150 | 1,651 | +96 | -0 | +195 |
| 2025 Q1 | 11,590 | 2,016 | +262 | -25 | +237 |
| 2024 Q4 | 11,252 | 2,117 | +149 | -29 | +120 |
| 2024 Q3 | 11,662 | 1,587 | +55 | -65 | -10 |
| 2024 Q2 | 11,763 | 1,496 | +19 | -0 | +226 |
| 2024 Q1 | 11,354 | 1,679 | +14 | -160 | -146 |
| 2023 Q4 | 11,221 | 1,958 | +27 | -97 | -70 |
14 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustang Gt | Petrol | 4,529 | 37% |
| Mustang Gt Auto | Petrol | 3,359 | 28% |
| Mustang Ecoboost | Petrol | 1,062 | 9% |
| Mustang Auto | Petrol | 785 | 6% |
| Mustang Ecoboost Auto | Petrol | 710 | 6% |
| Mustang Bullitt | Petrol | 611 | 5% |
| Mustang Mach 1 | Petrol | 287 | 2% |
| Mustang Mach 1 Auto | Diesel | 222 | 2% |
| Mustang Dark Horse Auto | Petrol | 190 | 2% |
| Mustang Dark Horse | Petrol | 146 | 1% |
| Mustang 55 Edition Auto | Petrol | 94 | <1% |
| Mustang Shadow Edition Auto | Petrol | 81 | <1% |
| Mustang 55 Edition | Petrol | 63 | <1% |
| Mustang Shadow Edition | Petrol | 62 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 90.2% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2020 | 89.4% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2019 | 87.2% | a tyre cords visible or damaged, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2018 | 89.2% | parking brake inoperative on one side, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
19 earlier years
| 2017 | 90% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, parking brake inoperative on one side |
| 2016 | 87.5% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2015 | 88.7% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, exhaust system leaking or insecure |
| 2014 | 89.1% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2013 | 88.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, headlamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2012 | 87.3% | 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, a tyre seriously damaged |
| 2011 | 83.1% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2010 | 86.2% | steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2009 | 86.9% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2008 | 89% | a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2007 | 84.8% | lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 84.9% | lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, parking brake inoperative on one side |
| 2005 | 86.7% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2004 | 78.3% | a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 2000 | 71.7% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, 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 |
| 1997 | 83.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a shock absorber insecurely attached to chassis or axle |
| 1996 | 73.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 1995 | 82.4% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1994 | 84.5% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
Typical mileage
Half of all Mustangs tested had between 26,302 and 74,161 miles on the clock.
At 42,183 median miles, the Mustang has 0.028 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 Mustang MOT pass rate?
The Ford Mustang has a 88% MOT pass rate based on 24,776 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Mustang?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Mustang is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, which caused 421 failures. Other common issues include parking brake inoperative on one side.
How many Ford Mustangs are on UK roads?
There are 12,252 Ford Mustangs currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,751 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Mustang at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Mustang is 42,183 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 26,302 and 74,161 miles.
Buying a used Mustang?
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.
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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.