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Ford Galaxy Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Galaxy car check

Is the Ford Galaxy reliable? We analysed 2,683,070 real MOT tests across 199,482 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,683,070 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.9%
Typical Mileage
98,295mi
Annual Mileage
8,332mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
31yrs

The Ford Galaxy is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Galaxy.

Ford Galaxy Number Plates

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

Ford Galaxy MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

85.6%
2023
84%
2022
79.8%
2021
83.8%
2020
82.6%
2019
83.1%
2018
84.4%
2017
83.8%
2016
75.5%
2015
74.6%
2014
74.7%
2013
74.6%
2012
73.8%
2011
72.9%
2010
73%
2009
72.6%
2008
71.4%
2007
70.2%
2006
69.5%
2005
68.4%
2004

Ford Galaxy Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 102,272
position lamp(s) not working 77,739
Brake pipe excessively corroded 70,441
Stop lamp not working 68,929
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 56,531
Direction indicator incorrect colour 41,634
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 41,146
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 40,024
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 38,627
Registration plate lamp not working 36,990

Ford Galaxy Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
5,393 mi/yr
Typical
8,332 mi/yr
Average
10,858 mi/yr
Heavy usage
12,586 mi/yr

Ford Galaxy MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2023 132 85.6% 18,055 30,288 40,287
2022 896 84.0% 15,257 25,411 38,715
2021 4,036 79.8% 28,547 44,313 63,683
2020 6,395 83.8% 21,517 34,636 52,838
2019 14,838 82.6% 28,739 46,391 69,740
2018 25,918 83.1% 36,703 62,344 99,726
2017 44,721 84.4% 37,291 60,312 93,498
2016 46,810 83.8% 41,424 65,597 100,028
2015 38,125 75.5% 51,605 82,506 123,296
2014 73,172 74.6% 51,218 80,201 118,938
2013 77,271 74.7% 55,563 85,364 123,016
2012 108,023 74.6% 58,650 90,777 129,866
2011 118,030 73.8% 59,858 92,318 131,488
2010 113,571 72.9% 61,380 93,658 130,502
2009 126,778 73.0% 64,937 99,307 138,194
2008 136,733 72.6% 65,860 100,068 137,607
2007 145,478 71.4% 64,902 99,134 135,780
2006 112,747 70.2% 65,547 99,344 135,310
2005 154,224 69.5% 63,669 96,750 132,657
2004 153,105 68.4% 65,482 97,799 132,503

How Long Does a Ford Galaxy Last?

Based on 199,482 Ford Galaxy vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.3 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
31 years

Ford Galaxy Mileage Distribution

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

Median
98,295 mi
75th Percentile
131,968 mi
95th Percentile
190,267 mi
Max Recorded
1,667,548 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Galaxy

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

Best year
2023

85.6% MOT pass rate from 132 tests

Year to avoid
1995

61.6% MOT pass rate from 19,389 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Galaxy is 2023, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.6% across 132 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Galaxy Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Galaxy THIS CAR 69.9% 2,683,070 98,295 mi 31 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
Mercedes-benz A-class 77.6% 4,204,702 57,023 mi 28 yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Galaxy trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ford Galaxy?

The Ford Galaxy has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.9% across 2,683,070 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Ford Galaxy are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (102,272 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (77,739), and brake pipe excessively corroded (70,441). 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 Galaxy owner drives around 8,332 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 Galaxy models stay on UK roads for around 31 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 Galaxy — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Galaxy reliable?
Based on 2,683,070 MOT tests, the Ford Galaxy has a 69.9% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Ford Galaxy?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, position lamp(s) not working, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Galaxy do per year?
The typical Ford Galaxy does around 8,332 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Galaxy last?
Most Ford Galaxy models stay on UK roads for around 31 years based on our analysis of 199,482 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Galaxy?
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 Galaxy?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Galaxy is 2023 with a 85.6% pass rate across 132 tests.