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Ford Mondeo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Mondeo car check

Is the Ford Mondeo reliable? We analysed 12,239,875 real MOT tests across 1,205,291 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 12,239,875 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.1%
Typical Mileage
94,838mi
Annual Mileage
7,416mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Ford Mondeo is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Mondeo.

Ford Mondeo Number Plates

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

Ford Mondeo MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

90.8%
2022
86.1%
2021
86.4%
2020
86.2%
2019
86.3%
2018
86.5%
2017
85.2%
2016
83.9%
2015
79.7%
2014
78.3%
2013
77.5%
2012
76.7%
2011
75.1%
2010
74.8%
2009
74%
2008
72.3%
2007
71.9%
2006
71.1%
2005
70.4%
2004
70.4%
2003

Ford Mondeo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 610,562
Brake pipe excessively corroded 513,490
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 357,218
position lamp(s) not working 250,827
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 244,051
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 235,504
parking brake recording little or no effort 228,962
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 194,099
Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 149,325
coil spring fractured 141,863

Ford Mondeo Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
4,561 mi/yr
Typical
7,416 mi/yr
Average
8,982 mi/yr
Heavy usage
11,250 mi/yr

Ford Mondeo MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2022 522 90.8% 20,321 32,290 53,612
2021 2,691 86.1% 26,194 41,270 64,287
2020 8,147 86.4% 27,195 44,952 67,766
2019 23,058 86.2% 30,612 49,778 76,008
2018 45,738 86.3% 35,122 55,810 83,392
2017 87,254 86.5% 40,270 61,796 89,261
2016 144,437 85.2% 43,976 67,636 97,224
2015 179,292 83.9% 46,822 72,904 104,603
2014 147,900 79.7% 56,552 84,095 116,872
2013 184,533 78.3% 60,251 88,980 122,852
2012 268,774 77.5% 59,774 89,688 124,440
2011 265,378 76.7% 62,060 93,425 129,216
2010 403,883 75.1% 61,130 92,346 127,454
2009 482,893 74.8% 62,368 94,177 129,174
2008 621,553 74.0% 67,067 99,478 134,214
2007 693,094 72.3% 62,928 93,847 127,922
2006 667,976 71.9% 61,170 90,803 123,109
2005 808,898 71.1% 60,072 89,401 121,757
2004 848,421 70.4% 61,139 90,154 122,311
2003 834,673 70.4% 60,112 88,659 120,122

How Long Does a Ford Mondeo Last?

Based on 1,205,291 Ford Mondeo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.6 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Ford Mondeo Mileage Distribution

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

Median
94,838 mi
75th Percentile
125,247 mi
95th Percentile
176,538 mi
Max Recorded
1,505,773 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Mondeo

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

Best year
2022

90.8% MOT pass rate from 522 tests

Year to avoid
1993

61.9% MOT pass rate from 132,483 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Mondeo is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 90.8% across 522 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Mondeo Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Mondeo THIS CAR 70.1% 12,239,875 94,838 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 Berlingo 70.1% 4,453,235 83,738 mi 29 yrs

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

Found a Ford Mondeo 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 Mondeo?

The Ford Mondeo has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.1% across 12,239,875 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Ford Mondeo are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (610,562 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (513,490), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (357,218). 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 Mondeo owner drives around 7,416 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 Mondeo 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 Mondeo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Mondeo reliable?
Based on 12,239,875 MOT tests, the Ford Mondeo has a 70.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Ford Mondeo?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Mondeo do per year?
The typical Ford Mondeo does around 7,416 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Mondeo last?
Most Ford Mondeo models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 1,205,291 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Mondeo?
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 Mondeo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Mondeo is 2022 with a 90.8% pass rate across 522 tests.