2020 Ford Fiesta T Mhev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,571 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Ford Fiesta T Mhev, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 92.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (90.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.0% in the 60-90k group versus 5.6% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 86 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.1% | 64 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.7% | 27 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 20 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.9% | 14 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 95 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 32 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 22 |
| 4 | Washers | 21 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 13 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 20.8% | 326 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 100 |
| 3 | Other defects | 4.7% | 73 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.0% | 62 |
| 5 | Road wheels | 1.6% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.1% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 1,067 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 447 | 12.1% |
| 60-90k | 50 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 523 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 523 | 6.7% |
| 2025 | 525 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Fiesta T Mhev
Before buying a 2020 Ford Fiesta T Mhev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.1% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (1.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2020 Ford Fiesta T Mhevs pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 1,571 2020 Ford Fiesta T Mhev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Fiesta T Mhev?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.1%).
Does the 2020 Fiesta T Mhev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 12.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,571 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.