2020 Ford Fiesta X Turbo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,156 MOT tests analysed for the 2020 Ford Fiesta X Turbo, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension. Its pass rate of 89.4% was below the average for cars of a similar age (90.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 15.1% in the 60-90k group versus 8.3% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 177 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 169 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.3% | 74 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.2% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.9% | 28 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 24 |
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 | 255 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 83 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 58 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 23 |
| 6 | Washers | 21 |
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 | 20.4% | 645 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 493 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 158 |
| 4 | Road wheels | 4.9% | 155 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.9% | 154 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.9% | 27 |
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 | 1,873 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,225 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 53 | 15.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,093 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 1,013 | 10.6% |
| 2025 | 1,036 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2020 Fiesta X Turbo
Before buying a 2020 Ford Fiesta X Turbo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.3% 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.
- Suspension (2.3% 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.
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 X Turbos pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 3,156 2020 Ford Fiesta X Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 Ford Fiesta X Turbo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by tyres (5.3%).
Does the 2020 Fiesta X Turbo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,156 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.