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Ford F150 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford F150 car check

Is the Ford F150 reliable? We analysed 16,119 real MOT tests across 1,724 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 16,119 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.8%
Typical Mileage
75,465mi
Annual Mileage
2,854mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Ford F150 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, direction indicator incorrect colour and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford F150.

Ford F150 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ford F150. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ford F150 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ford F150 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

90.8%
2019
88.6%
2018
85.6%
2017
87%
2016
83.8%
2015
85.7%
2014
84.3%
2013
82.1%
2012
82.7%
2011
84.1%
2010
83.5%
2009
81.8%
2008
79.9%
2007
78.7%
2006
78.7%
2005
81.3%
2004
81.3%
2003
82.5%
2002
79.9%
2001
78.5%
2000

Ford F150 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ford F150 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

fog lamp not working 320
Direction indicator incorrect colour 224
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 210
Brake pipe excessively corroded 181
position lamp(s) not working 165
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 163
parking brake recording little or no effort 146
suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint 146
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 122
Registration plate lamp not working 122

Ford F150 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ford F150 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,058 mi/yr
Typical
2,854 mi/yr
Average
4,445 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,850 mi/yr

Ford F150 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford F150 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2019 87 90.8% 18,966 33,864 49,560
2018 211 88.6% 22,973 38,202 71,452
2017 250 85.6% 26,644 40,463 66,638
2016 277 87.0% 37,590 60,169 94,058
2015 277 83.8% 24,824 45,723 76,656
2014 279 85.7% 35,114 57,980 79,388
2013 350 84.3% 33,585 57,976 95,720
2012 195 82.1% 33,921 57,919 103,816
2011 255 82.7% 44,309 80,330 109,160
2010 333 84.1% 56,388 96,241 138,065
2009 206 83.5% 57,160 103,207 149,510
2008 319 81.8% 39,519 63,791 104,524
2007 407 79.9% 41,970 65,256 117,974
2006 558 78.7% 36,205 67,356 111,666
2005 799 78.7% 44,583 71,486 110,354
2004 1,719 81.3% 35,417 64,213 106,011
2003 2,315 81.3% 40,401 64,765 97,567
2002 1,496 82.5% 49,985 75,381 115,896
2001 1,267 79.9% 59,912 84,462 127,796
2000 1,227 78.5% 64,552 92,092 128,459

How Long Does a Ford F150 Last?

Based on 1,724 Ford F150 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
14.1 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Ford F150 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ford F150 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
75,465 mi
75th Percentile
114,835 mi
95th Percentile
185,535 mi
Max Recorded
990,734 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford F150

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2019

90.8% MOT pass rate from 87 tests

Year to avoid
1986

68.6% MOT pass rate from 102 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford F150 is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.8% across 87 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford F150 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford F150 THIS CAR 80.8% 16,119 75,465 mi 33 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
Citroen C4 Shine Puretech S/s 82.8% 4,844 27,820 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford F150 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ford F150?

The Ford F150 has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.8% across 16,119 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Ford F150 are fog lamp not working (320 recorded failures), direction indicator incorrect colour (224), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (210). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ford F150 owner drives around 2,854 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 F150 models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.

Ford F150 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford F150 reliable?
Based on 16,119 MOT tests, the Ford F150 has a 80.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford F150?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, direction indicator incorrect colour, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford F150 do per year?
The typical Ford F150 does around 2,854 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford F150 last?
Most Ford F150 models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 1,724 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford F150?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ford F150?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford F150 is 2019 with a 90.8% pass rate across 87 tests.