2002 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 62,740 MOT tests analysed for the 2002 Ford Fiesta, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes. Its pass rate of 71.5% was in line with the average for superminis of a similar age (70.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.0% in the 150k+ group versus 20.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 9,403 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.4% | 8,428 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.0% | 7,513 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.0% | 4,373 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 3,708 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 3,611 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 3,883 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 3,665 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 3,291 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 3,148 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 3,063 |
| 6 | Wipers | 3,046 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.9% | 23,140 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.6% | 21,717 |
| 3 | Tyres | 28.1% | 17,646 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.2% | 12,639 |
| 5 | Other defects | 18.0% | 11,280 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 7,297 |
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 | 1,951 | 20.9% |
| 30-60k | 13,118 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 20,420 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 16,759 | 31.0% |
| 120-150k | 7,084 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 2,997 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 57,711 | 28.5% |
| Diesel | 5,029 | 28.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18,928 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 15,150 | 28.6% |
| 2023 | 12,003 | 28.1% |
| 2024 | 9,313 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 7,346 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Fiesta
Before buying a 2002 Ford Fiesta, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Brakes (12.0% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 2002 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 62,740 2002 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by suspension (13.4%).
Does the 2002 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.9% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 62,740 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.