2001 Ford Mondeo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 13,517 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Ford Mondeo, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 70.6% was below the average for large family cars of a similar age (71.9%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.2% in the 150k+ group versus 19.5% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.7% | 2,119 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 1,968 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 1,411 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 833 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 798 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 691 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 902 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 816 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 700 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 612 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 573 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 526 |
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 | 42.9% | 5,797 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.3% | 5,038 |
| 3 | Tyres | 27.0% | 3,644 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.8% | 2,406 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.1% | 2,179 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 14.7% | 1,990 |
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 | 113 | 19.5% |
| 30-60k | 1,010 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,896 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 4,116 | 29.8% |
| 120-150k | 2,933 | 30.5% |
| 150k+ | 2,434 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 12,270 | 29.1% |
| Diesel | 1,242 | 31.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,327 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 3,306 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 2,530 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 1,923 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 1,431 | 28.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Mondeo
Before buying a 2001 Ford Mondeo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 15.7% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (15.7% 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 (14.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2001 Ford Mondeos pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 13,517 2001 Ford Mondeo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Mondeo?
Suspension, recorded in 15.7% of tests, followed by brakes (14.6%).
Does the 2001 Mondeo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.5% in the 0-30k band to 33.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 13,517 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.