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Ford Journey Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Journey car check

Is the Ford Journey reliable? We analysed 2,012 real MOT tests across 215 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 2,012 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
76.8%
Typical Mileage
110,737mi
Annual Mileage
22,520mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
10yrs

The Ford Journey is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Journey.

Ford Journey Number Plates

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

Ford Journey MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

78.3%
2020
79.6%
2019
75.1%
2018
79%
2017
74.3%
2016

Ford Journey Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Ford Journey models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 26
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 20

Ford Journey Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
13,729 mi/yr
Typical
22,520 mi/yr
Average
23,797 mi/yr
Heavy usage
31,790 mi/yr

Ford Journey MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 92 78.3% 49,431 92,896 138,929
2019 211 79.6% 54,453 105,811 156,880
2018 814 75.1% 53,661 97,398 139,866
2017 591 79.0% 78,327 129,270 185,639
2016 272 74.3% 74,113 129,358 169,510

How Long Does a Ford Journey Last?

Based on 215 Ford Journey vehicles on UK roads.

Average
6.6 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
10 years

Ford Journey Mileage Distribution

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

Median
110,737 mi
75th Percentile
160,530 mi
95th Percentile
241,364 mi
Max Recorded
446,542 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Journey

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

Best year
2019

79.6% MOT pass rate from 211 tests

Year to avoid
2016

74.3% MOT pass rate from 272 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Journey is 2019, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.6% across 211 tests. The 2016 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Journey Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Journey THIS CAR 76.8% 2,012 110,737 mi 10 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
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 Ltd A 72.6% 2,039 74,269 mi 23 yrs

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

Found a Ford Journey 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 Journey?

The Ford Journey has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.8% across 2,012 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Ford Journey with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Ford Journey owner drives around 22,520 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 Journey models stay on UK roads for around 10 years. If you're buying one that's already well within 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 Journey — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Journey reliable?
Based on 2,012 MOT tests, the Ford Journey has a 76.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford Journey?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Ford Journey do per year?
The typical Ford Journey does around 22,520 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Journey last?
Most Ford Journey models stay on UK roads for around 10 years based on our analysis of 215 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Journey?
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 Journey?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Journey is 2019 with a 79.6% pass rate across 211 tests.