Ford Unclassified
From 4,809 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
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, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, caused 116 failures in 2024. 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 | 116 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 111 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 97 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 92 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 85 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 81 |
| 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 | 59 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 54 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 53 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 53 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 18.7% of Unclassified failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 24% 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 £123.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 82.6% while Diesel versions pass at 75.9%, a 7 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87.8% | a tyre seriously damaged, number plate does not conform to the specified requirements |
| 2020 | 91.5% | a suspension component missing, likely to become detached or directional stability impaired, 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 |
| 2019 | 87.6% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a lens defective such that the emitted light is adversely affected |
| 2018 | 80.5% | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
13 earlier years
| 2017 | 83.8% | a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2016 | 88% | a tyre seriously damaged, parking brake inoperative on one side |
| 2015 | 81.6% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen |
| 2014 | 81% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a lens defective which has no effect on emitted light |
| 2013 | 83.9% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 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 |
| 2012 | 68.6% | 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 |
| 2011 | 74.6% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point |
| 2010 | 68.3% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2009 | 69% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, engine mil illuminated indicating a malfunction |
| 2008 | 74.4% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2007 | 71.1% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 2006 | 80.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2005 | 71.5% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
Typical mileage
Half of all Unclassifieds tested had between 45,861 and 119,821 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 61,874 median miles, the Unclassified has 0.033 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 Unclassified MOT pass rate?
The Ford Unclassified has a 79.4% MOT pass rate based on 4,809 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Unclassified?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Unclassified is a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, which caused 116 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Unclassified at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Unclassified is 61,874 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 45,861 and 119,821 miles.
Buying a used Unclassified?
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 79.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £123 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.