Ford Popular (new Body) MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 80 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 16.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Ford Popular (new Body) MOT Reliability Overview
The Ford Popular (new Body) is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 80 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.8% and a failure rate of 16.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Ford Popular (new Body) earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Ford Popular (new Body) presents for MOT with approximately 45,138 miles on the clock. The 1960 manufacture year performs best with a 81.8% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Ford Popular (new Body) is Brakes, affecting 13.8% 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 Driver's View of the Road at 7.5%. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment rounds out the top three at 7.5%. 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 | 31.3% | 25 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.5% | 10 |
| 3 | Driver's View Of The Road | 10.0% | 8 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 10.0% | 8 |
| 5 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 5.0% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 2 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 45,138 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 | 6.92 | 31.3% | 25 |
| Suspension | 2.77 | 12.5% | 10 |
| Visibility | 2.22 | 10.0% | 8 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.22 | 10.0% | 8 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.11 | 5.0% | 4 |
| Steering | 0.55 | 2.5% | 2 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Ford Popular (new Body) has 45,138 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 Popular (new Body) has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 3.61% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Ford Popular (new Body) MOT Data
The Ford Popular (new Body) is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 80 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.8% and a failure rate of 16.3%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Ford Popular (new Body) owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and driver's view of the road 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 Popular (new Body) is likely to perform.
Brakes — 13.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 13.8% of MOT failures on the Ford Popular (new Body). 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).
Driver's View of the Road — 7.5% of failures
Driver's View of the Road issues account for 7.5% of MOT failures on the Ford Popular (new Body). Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 7.5% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 7.5% of MOT failures on the Ford Popular (new Body). Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Popular (new Body)?
Based on 80 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Ford Popular (new Body) has an overall pass rate of 83.8% (16.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Popular (new Body)?
The top 3 reasons a Ford Popular (new Body) fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (13.8%), 2. Driver's View of the Road (7.5%), 3. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (7.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Ford Popular (new Body) reliable?
With a 16.3% MOT failure rate, the Popular (new Body) is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Ford Popular (new Body)?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (13.8%); Driver's View of the Road (7.5%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (7.5%). 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.