Ford Auto Trail Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Auto Trail car check
Is the Ford Auto Trail reliable? We analysed 4,299 real MOT tests across 416 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Auto Trail? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Auto Trail is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Auto Trail.
Ford Auto Trail Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Auto Trail. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Auto Trail MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Auto Trail to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Auto Trail Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Auto Trail fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Auto Trail Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Auto Trail owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Auto Trail MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Auto Trail year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1,278 | 86.7% | 12,151 | 18,225 | 26,222 |
| 2013 | 1,549 | 88.2% | 13,789 | 21,524 | 31,181 |
| 2012 | 1,141 | 85.8% | 13,376 | 21,264 | 32,882 |
| 2011 | 207 | 86.5% | 11,481 | 17,386 | 25,435 |
How Long Does a Ford Auto Trail Last?
Based on 416 Ford Auto Trail vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Auto Trail Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Auto Trail MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Auto Trail
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.2% MOT pass rate from 1,549 tests
85.8% MOT pass rate from 1,141 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Auto Trail is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.2% across 1,549 tests. The 2012 model year has the lowest pass rate at 85.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Auto Trail Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Auto Trail THIS CAR | 86.9% | 4,299 | 20,270 mi | 15 yrs |
| Ford Fiesta | 72.8% | 33,753,820 | 57,529 mi | 34 yrs |
| Ford Focus | 73.8% | 28,316,889 | 72,500 mi | 27 yrs |
| Ford Transit | 68.7% | 16,371,688 | 100,614 mi | 37 yrs |
| Kawasaki Zx 1000 Gdf | 91% | 1,899 | 12,430 mi | 14 yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Auto Trail outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Auto Trail you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Ford Auto TrailShould you buy a used Ford Auto Trail?
The Ford Auto Trail has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.9% across 4,299 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is position lamp(s) not working with 13 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
A typical Ford Auto Trail owner drives around 1,892 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Ford Auto Trail models stay on UK roads for around 15 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.