Ford Cardinal MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 1,041 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 40.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Ford Cardinal MOT Reliability Overview
The Ford Cardinal is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,041 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 11 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 59.2% and a failure rate of 40.8%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Ford Cardinal earns a "Below Average" reliability rating. The average Ford Cardinal presents for MOT with approximately 78,565 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 2009 models achieve the highest pass rate at 68.5%, while 2003 models have the lowest at 39.7%. This 28.8 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Ford Cardinal is Brakes, affecting 47.6% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Suspension at 34.3%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 19.2%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 51.3% | 534 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 37.4% | 390 |
| 3 | Suspension | 35.3% | 367 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.9% | 207 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 6.7% | 70 |
| 6 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 6.6% | 68 |
| 7 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 6.0% | 62 |
| 8 | Visibility | 5.6% | 58 |
| 9 | Steering | 4.7% | 49 |
| 10 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 3.4% | 35 |
| 11 | Body, Structure And General Items | 3.1% | 32 |
| 12 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 2.9% | 30 |
| 13 | Non-component Advisories | 2.0% | 21 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 78,565 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.53 | 51.3% | 534 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 4.77 | 37.4% | 390 |
| Suspension | 4.49 | 35.3% | 367 |
| Tyres | 2.53 | 19.9% | 207 |
| Visibility | 1.57 | 12.3% | 128 |
| Body & Structure | 1.15 | 9.1% | 94 |
| Seat Belts | 0.83 | 6.6% | 68 |
| Steering | 0.60 | 4.7% | 49 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.43 | 3.4% | 35 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.37 | 2.9% | 30 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.26 | 2.0% | 21 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Ford Cardinal has 78,565 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Ford Cardinal has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 5.19% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Ford Cardinal MOT Data
The Ford Cardinal is a niche vehicle in the UK, with 1,041 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 11 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 59.2% and a failure rate of 40.8%, which is slightly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Ford Cardinal owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and suspension for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Cardinal is likely to perform.
Brakes — 47.6% of failures
Brakes issues account for 47.6% of MOT failures on the Ford Cardinal. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Suspension — 34.3% of failures
Suspension issues account for 34.3% of MOT failures on the Ford Cardinal. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Tyres — 19.2% of failures
Tyres issues account for 19.2% of MOT failures on the Ford Cardinal. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Cardinal?
Based on 1,041 MOT tests in our database, the Ford Cardinal has an overall pass rate of 59.2% (40.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Cardinal?
The top 3 reasons a Ford Cardinal fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (47.6%), 2. Suspension (34.3%), 3. Tyres (19.2%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Ford Cardinal reliable?
With a 40.8% MOT failure rate, the Cardinal is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Ford Cardinal?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (47.6%); Suspension (34.3%); Tyres (19.2%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.