2012 · 12 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2012 Ford Ka MOT pass rate and common faults

16,852 MOT tests in 2024. 64.2% passed first time, compared with 64.3% for all cars the same age.

100About average
Passed first time64.2%
Failed or needed repairs35.8%
Typical mileage at test61,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 16,852 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn4.7%
  2. Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush4.5%
  3. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak3.9%
  4. Suspension arms - ball joint: ball joint excessively worn3.4%
  5. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.9%
    701 marked dangerous
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases2.8%
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.4%
  8. Position lamp: not working2.1%
  9. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.0%
    403 marked dangerous
  10. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements1.7%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Suspension22.8%
  2. Lights & electrics16.6%
  3. Brakes9.6%
  4. Tyres7.4%
  5. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)5.1%
  6. Body & chassis4.9%
  7. Emissions & leaks4.3%
  8. Steering1.8%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm17.7%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.3%
  3. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened12.4%
  4. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases11.7%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure11.4%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2012 Ford Ka?

In 2024, 64.2% of 2012 Ford Ka cars passed their MOT first time, across 16,852 tests. The average for all 12-year-old cars was 64.3%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2012 Ford Ka?

The most common failure reasons were suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn; shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush; shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak. The biggest problem area was suspension.

Is the 2012 Ford Ka reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 100, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).