2020 Ford Fiesta Turbo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 22,062 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Ford Fiesta Turbo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and tyres. Its pass rate of 90.9% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 18.8% in the 90-120k group versus 8.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 1,330 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.2% | 701 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.9% | 650 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 374 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 315 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 213 |
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 | 1,701 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 821 |
| 3 | Washers | 325 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 261 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 256 |
| 6 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 145 |
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 | 21.1% | 4,661 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.2% | 2,032 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 1,244 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 1,122 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 288 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.7% | 146 |
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 | 15,301 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 6,185 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 497 | 11.5% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 18.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 392 | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 7,507 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 7,025 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 7,134 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Fiesta Turbo
Before buying a 2020 Ford Fiesta Turbo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 6.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (6.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.2% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Tyres (2.9% 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.
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 Turbos pass their MOT?
90.9% of the 22,062 2020 Ford Fiesta Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Fiesta Turbo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.0% of tests, followed by suspension (3.2%).
Does the 2020 Fiesta Turbo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 18.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 22,062 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.