2018 Ford Galaxy — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 20,700 MOT tests analysed for the 2018 Ford Galaxy, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 88.7% was in line with the average for MPVs of a similar age (88.8%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 1,505 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.1% | 1,050 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.3% | 897 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.8% | 584 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 240 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.7% | 145 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 722 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 621 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 543 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 499 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 432 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 379 |
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 | 21.2% | 4,391 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.6% | 3,223 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.5% | 1,552 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 1,120 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 828 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.1% | 644 |
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 | 3,830 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 6,283 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 4,102 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 2,973 | 10.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,774 | 9.8% |
| 150k+ | 1,735 | 12.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 20,030 | 11.2% |
| Petrol | 670 | 11.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,440 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 4,106 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 4,088 | 11.6% |
| 2024 | 4,100 | 13.3% |
| 2025 | 3,966 | 12.9% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Galaxy
Before buying a 2018 Ford Galaxy, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.3% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (5.1% 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 (4.3% 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 2018 Ford Galaxys pass their MOT?
88.7% of the 20,700 2018 Ford Galaxy MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Ford Galaxy?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.3% of tests, followed by tyres (5.1%).
Does the 2018 Galaxy get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 12.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 20,700 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.