Ford Zodiac Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Zodiac car check
Is the Ford Zodiac reliable? We analysed 6,628 real MOT tests across 872 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Zodiac? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Zodiac is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake binding and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Zodiac.
Ford Zodiac Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Zodiac. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Zodiac MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Zodiac to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Zodiac Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Zodiac fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Zodiac Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Zodiac owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Zodiac MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Zodiac year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 69 | 87.0% | 7,584 | 21,860 | 41,117 |
| 1978 | 71 | 84.5% | 42,882 | 44,824 | 49,442 |
| 1972 | 92 | 83.7% | 31,020 | 49,215 | 65,267 |
| 1971 | 275 | 82.5% | 19,098 | 50,282 | 78,489 |
| 1970 | 213 | 82.6% | 23,237 | 65,672 | 79,751 |
| 1969 | 188 | 77.1% | 45,220 | 58,052 | 72,480 |
| 1968 | 107 | 85.0% | 41,624 | 62,773 | 74,012 |
| 1967 | 93 | 77.4% | 22,417 | 49,785 | 82,248 |
| 1966 | 328 | 84.1% | 26,784 | 50,792 | 78,628 |
| 1965 | 880 | 83.3% | 21,913 | 51,552 | 80,045 |
| 1964 | 751 | 83.2% | 29,064 | 61,070 | 76,583 |
| 1963 | 631 | 84.3% | 24,224 | 46,286 | 76,850 |
| 1962 | 586 | 85.2% | 10,460 | 37,726 | 65,518 |
| 1961 | 767 | 88.8% | 19,512 | 40,442 | 75,016 |
| 1960 | 544 | 82.9% | 9,770 | 51,044 | 82,982 |
| 1959 | 389 | 85.6% | 23,668 | 56,093 | 71,820 |
| 1958 | 124 | 88.7% | 10,285 | 36,987 | 85,824 |
| 1957 | 99 | 87.9% | 24,576 | 47,262 | 65,384 |
| 1956 | 72 | 94.4% | 31,562 | 56,528 | 65,182 |
| 1955 | 97 | 88.7% | 1,962 | 48,771 | 59,386 |
How Long Does a Ford Zodiac Last?
Based on 872 Ford Zodiac vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Zodiac Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Zodiac 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 Zodiac
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
94.4% MOT pass rate from 72 tests
77.1% MOT pass rate from 188 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Zodiac is 1956, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.4% across 72 tests. The 1969 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Zodiac Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Zodiac THIS CAR | 84.6% | 6,628 | 48,406 mi | 71 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 |
| Yamaha Fzr | 79.5% | 5,309 | 29,768 mi | 39 yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Zodiac outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Zodiac 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 ZodiacShould you buy a used Ford Zodiac?
The Ford Zodiac has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.6% across 6,628 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 Zodiac are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (270 recorded failures), brake binding (175), and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (156). 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 Zodiac owner drives around 344 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 Zodiac models stay on UK roads for around 71 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.