Ford Fista MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 36 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 33.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Ford Fista MOT Reliability Overview
The Ford Fista is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 36 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.7% and a failure rate of 33.3%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Ford Fista earns a "Good" reliability rating. The average Ford Fista presents for MOT with approximately 54,543 miles on the clock.
The most common MOT failure for the Ford Fista is Suspension, affecting 47.2% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Brakes at 22.2%. Visibility rounds out the top three at 16.7%. 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
* 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 | Suspension | 47.2% | 17 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 25.0% | 9 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.2% | 8 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.7% | 6 |
| 5 | Visibility | 16.7% | 6 |
| 6 | Non-component Advisories | 13.9% | 5 |
| 7 | Steering | 11.1% | 4 |
| 8 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 5.6% | 2 |
| 9 | Driver's View Of The Road | 5.6% | 2 |
| 10 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 5.6% | 2 |
| 11 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 2.8% | 1 |
| 12 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 2.8% | 1 |
| 13 | Road Wheels | 2.8% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 54,543 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 8.66 | 47.2% | 17 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 4.59 | 25.0% | 9 |
| Visibility | 4.08 | 22.3% | 8 |
| Brakes | 4.07 | 22.2% | 8 |
| Tyres | 3.06 | 16.7% | 6 |
| Non-component advisories | 2.55 | 13.9% | 5 |
| Steering | 2.04 | 11.1% | 4 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 1.02 | 5.6% | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 1.02 | 5.6% | 2 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.51 | 2.8% | 1 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.51 | 2.8% | 1 |
| Wheels | 0.51 | 2.8% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Ford Fista has 54,543 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 Fista has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 6.11% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Ford Fista MOT Data
The Ford Fista is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 36 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.7% and a failure rate of 33.3%, which is slightly above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Ford Fista owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes 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 Fista is likely to perform.
Suspension — 47.2% of failures
Suspension issues account for 47.2% of MOT failures on the Ford Fista. 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.
Brakes — 22.2% of failures
Brakes issues account for 22.2% of MOT failures on the Ford Fista. 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).
Visibility — 16.7% of failures
Visibility issues account for 16.7% of MOT failures on the Ford Fista. Visibility failures relate to the windscreen, wipers, washers, mirrors, and view-obstructing damage. Cracks in the windscreen swept area, ineffective wipers, or empty washer bottles are common causes. Typical repair costs: £10–300. Pre-MOT check: Check the windscreen for chips and cracks — damage larger than 10mm in the driver's swept area or 40mm elsewhere will fail. Test washers and wipers. Ensure both door mirrors are intact and adjustable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Fista?
Based on 36 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Ford Fista has an overall pass rate of 66.7% (33.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Fista?
The top 3 reasons a Ford Fista fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (47.2%), 2. Brakes (22.2%), 3. Visibility (16.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Ford Fista reliable?
With a 33.3% MOT failure rate, the Fista is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Ford Fista?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (47.2%); Brakes (22.2%); Visibility (16.7%). 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.