Ford Thames Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Thames car check
Is the Ford Thames reliable? We analysed 1,169 real MOT tests across 165 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Thames? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Thames is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brakes imbalanced across an axle and brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Thames.
Ford Thames Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Thames. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Thames MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Thames to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Thames Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Thames fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Thames Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Thames owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Thames MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Thames year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 118 | 83.1% | 40,947 | 57,200 | 80,924 |
| 1964 | 125 | 89.6% | 26,103 | 33,612 | 86,879 |
| 1963 | 86 | 87.2% | 41,154 | 48,706 | 60,492 |
| 1962 | 154 | 81.2% | 6,696 | 46,772 | 65,051 |
| 1961 | 126 | 85.7% | 56,694 | 72,431 | 77,974 |
| 1960 | 158 | 75.3% | 28,078 | 59,832 | 74,530 |
| 1959 | 84 | 84.5% | 42,493 | 46,802 | 59,798 |
How Long Does a Ford Thames Last?
Based on 165 Ford Thames vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Thames Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Thames MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Thames
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.6% MOT pass rate from 125 tests
75.3% MOT pass rate from 158 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Thames is 1964, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.6% across 125 tests. The 1960 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Thames Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Thames THIS CAR | 84.3% | 1,169 | 49,089 mi | 67 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 |
| Peugeot 308 Allure Sw Puretech S/s A | 89.8% | 657 | 29,021 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Thames outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Thames 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.
Check a specific Ford ThamesShould you buy a used Ford Thames?
The Ford Thames has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.3% across 1,169 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 Thames are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (44 recorded failures), brakes imbalanced across an axle (29), and brake recording little or no effort (25). 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 Thames owner drives around 267 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 Thames models stay on UK roads for around 67 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.