Ford MOT statistics

Ford Mustang MOT pass rate

Across 12,739 MOTs in 2025, the Mustang failed first time 16.2% of the time, counting those repaired during the test. That is 11.5 points below the 27.7% average across all cars and light vans tested, but that figure mixes vehicles of every age, so the fail rates by age below are the fairer guide.

Clean first-time passes: 83.8%
Failed first time: 16.2%
Tests in 2025: 12,739

Fail rate by age

How the Mustang holds up as it gets older, with the typical mileage on the clock at each test.

Age at test	Tests	Initial fail rate	Typical mileage
3 years	662	8.5%	14,466 mi
4 years	541	10.0%	18,673 mi
5 years	1,035	13.3%	23,022 mi
6 years	1,221	15.5%	26,846 mi
7 years	2,113	16.4%	33,746 mi
8 years	1,871	18.0%	36,344 mi
9 years	2,526	18.6%	39,519 mi

What a Mustang fails on

Defects recorded at 2025 tests, by inspection category.

Category	Share of defects
Brakes	31.8%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	18.2%
Tyres	17.3%
Visibility	11.1%
Suspension	8.2%
Noise, emissions and leaks	5.7%
Identification of the vehicle	3.0%
Steering	1.7%

From the average to the actual car

Statistics describe the herd. The Mustang in the advert is one animal, with its own service record, its own advisories and its own story, and that's the thing to check before money moves.

Start free: our MOT check shows its current status and last result in seconds. The £5.00 report adds every test it has ever sat, every MOT mileage reading, the tax band and registered spec. If the seller's car beats the averages above, the record will show it. If it doesn't, better to know now.

Other Ford models

Ford Fiesta: 34.4% failed first time
Ford Focus: 32.0% failed first time
Ford Kuga: 20.6% failed first time
Ford Transit: 37.6% failed first time
Ford Transit Custom: 22.7% failed first time
Ford Mondeo: 32.8% failed first time

Contains DVSA anonymised MOT testing data © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Mustang MOT: common questions

What is the Ford Mustang MOT pass rate?

In 2025, 83.8% of Ford Mustang MOTs were clean first-time passes. The other 16.2% failed or needed a defect fixed during the visit, measured across 12,739 official DVSA test results.

What does a Mustang fail its MOT on most?

Brakes topped the list for the Ford Mustang in 2025, followed by lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and tyres. The pattern is worth knowing before a viewing: check those areas yourself and read the car's own MOT history for repeat advisories.

Is a Mustang reliable?

These figures measure how well the Ford Mustang arrives at its MOT, which reflects both the vehicle and how it's been kept. The MOT never tests the gearbox, clutch or electronics, so treat the rate as one signal and the specific car's history and condition as the deciding ones.