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Ford F250 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford F250 car check

Is the Ford F250 reliable? We analysed 2,251 real MOT tests across 252 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,251 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
79.7%
Typical Mileage
84,667mi
Annual Mileage
2,051mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

The Ford F250 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include direction indicator incorrect colour, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and fog lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford F250.

Ford F250 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ford F250. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ford F250 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ford F250 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.5%
2012
79.6%
2008
78%
2007
83.7%
2006
75.6%
2005
80.4%
2004
84.2%
2003
78.7%
2002
78.8%
2000
79.3%
1999
78.4%
1997
84.3%
1996
77.9%
1995
80.9%
1994
72.9%
1990
81.1%
1988

Ford F250 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ford F250 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Direction indicator incorrect colour 45
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 41
fog lamp not working 41
brake binding 29
position lamp(s) not working 22
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 22
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 21
Registration plate lamp not working 21
Stop lamp not working 20
Battery insecure 19

Ford F250 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ford F250 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
744 mi/yr
Typical
2,051 mi/yr
Average
3,726 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,365 mi/yr

Ford F250 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford F250 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2012 83 79.5% 45,148 53,694 108,684
2008 108 79.6% 28,425 47,831 91,415
2007 59 78.0% 27,184 93,383 144,074
2006 92 83.7% 16,376 28,496 73,369
2005 213 75.6% 50,809 87,888 105,292
2004 179 80.4% 66,696 108,124 138,264
2003 165 84.2% 46,393 55,475 75,544
2002 183 78.7% 60,832 95,142 159,964
2000 85 78.8% 89,260 125,527 144,813
1999 179 79.3% 94,072 137,931 199,858
1997 74 78.4% 64,618 143,710 190,064
1996 70 84.3% 152,494 178,546 204,499
1995 77 77.9% 133,550 157,951 181,738
1994 68 80.9% 133,408 142,620 165,359
1990 70 72.9% 4,445 19,860 35,830
1988 74 81.1% 33,742 71,374 80,188

How Long Does a Ford F250 Last?

Based on 252 Ford F250 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.9 years
Median
18.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Ford F250 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ford F250 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
84,667 mi
75th Percentile
137,578 mi
95th Percentile
231,170 mi
Max Recorded
892,101 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford F250

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

Best year
1996

84.3% MOT pass rate from 70 tests

Year to avoid
1990

72.9% MOT pass rate from 70 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford F250 is 1996, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.3% across 70 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford F250 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford F250 THIS CAR 79.7% 2,251 84,667 mi 38 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
Jaguar Xf R-sport D Auto 90.7% 1,655 67,196 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford F250 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Ford F250 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.

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Should you buy a used Ford F250?

The Ford F250 has an overall MOT pass rate of 79.7% across 2,251 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 F250 are direction indicator incorrect colour (45 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (41), and fog lamp not working (41). 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 F250 owner drives around 2,051 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 F250 models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 F250 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford F250 reliable?
Based on 2,251 MOT tests, the Ford F250 has a 79.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford F250?
The most common MOT failures are direction indicator incorrect colour, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and fog lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford F250 do per year?
The typical Ford F250 does around 2,051 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford F250 last?
Most Ford F250 models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 252 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford F250?
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 F250?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford F250 is 1996 with a 84.3% pass rate across 70 tests.