2019 Ford Fiesta MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 84.7% of Ford Fiestas first used in 2019 passed their MOT first time, against 83.5% for all cars first used in 2019. Across 235,158 Fiesta first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were tyres, lamps and electrical equipment and brakes.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Fiestas first used in 2019 (all trims grouped): 2021 to 2025 for the pass-rate trend, and 2023 to 2025 for the failure and advisory analysis — plus what is worth checking before you buy one.

Data: DVSA anonymised MOT tests to December 2025 · Calculated by SortedCars · Updated October 2026

Passed first time, 2025
84.7%
of 78,063 first tests; all cars first used in 2019: 83.5%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
235,158
first tests, 2023–2025; 78,063 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
51.7%
of 78,063 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
37,500
middle half: 26,000–50,500 miles; all cars first used in 2019: 44,000

How the 2019 Ford Fiesta MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Fiestas first used in 2019 against all cars first used in 2019 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Fiesta figure was 1.2 points higher.

2019 FiestaAll cars first used in 2019
80%90%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2019, test year 2021: 89.2%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2022: 87.8%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2023: 86.2%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2024: 84.9%All cars first used in 2019, test year 2025: 83.5%2019 Fiesta, test year 2021: 89.5%2019 Fiesta, test year 2022: 88%2019 Fiesta, test year 2023: 87.6%2019 Fiesta, test year 2024: 85.8%2019 Fiesta, test year 2025: 84.7%84.7%83.5%
View this chart as a table
Test year2019 FiestaAll cars first used 2019Fiesta first tests
202189.5%89.2%3,114
202288.0%87.8%81,143
202387.6%86.2%78,733
202485.8%84.9%78,362
202584.7%83.5%78,063

Common 2019 Ford Fiesta MOT failures

Share of the 32,785 failed first tests (2023–2025) with at least one failure in each area. A test can fail in more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

Tyres38.5%
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment32.7%
Brakes16.2%
Visibility15.7%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems5.2%
Suspension4.5%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm14.2%4,664
Headlamp aim: too low12.5%4,110
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick11.6%3,790
Tyre condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords9.5%3,108
Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid8.1%2,643

Item names are DVSA’s own wording. 2023–2025 combined.

What to check on a 2019 Ford Fiesta before buying

The three areas where failed first tests most often had a fault, 2023–2025.

  1. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  2. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  3. Brakes. Worth looking at the discs and pads through the wheel spokes for scoring and a worn lip, and noticing on the test drive whether the car pulls to one side or the pedal feels long.

Common 2019 Ford Fiesta MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2019 Fiestas, as a share of all 235,158 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge14.2%33,339
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing11.0%25,759
Brake pads: wearing thin9.0%21,155
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened6.4%15,140
Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords2.3%5,302

Questions about the 2019 Ford Fiesta MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2019 Ford Fiesta?

In 2025, 84.7% of Fiestas first used in 2019 passed their MOT first time, against 83.5% for all cars first used in 2019. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2019 Fiesta most often fail its MOT on?

Tyres (in 38.5% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), lamps and electrical equipment (32.7%) and brakes (16.2%). The single most common item was “Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm” (14.2%).

How often does a 2019 Ford Fiesta fail its MOT?

In 2025, 15.3% of first tests on Fiestas first used in 2019 did not pass first time: 11.6% failed, and a further 3.7% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 32,785 of 235,158 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2019 Ford Fiesta MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 14.2% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (11.0%), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (9.0%), “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (6.4%) and “Tyre condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords” (2.3%).

Is a 2019 Ford Fiesta reliable?

An MOT pass rate shows what failed at the test, not how reliable a car is. For this group of cars the first-time pass rate went from 89.5% in 2021 to 84.7% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2019

The most-tested cars from the same year. Each page uses the same method.

2019 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2019 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2019 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class MOT statistics · 2019 MINI Hatch MOT statistics

How the 2019 Ford Fiesta MOT data is calculated

Every number on this page is calculated by SortedCars from DVSA’s anonymised MOT test data for Great Britain, 2021–2025. “2019 Fiesta” means a Ford Fiesta whose date of first use falls in 2019 (68, 19 and 69 plates), all trims grouped. Class 4 vehicles, first tests only — retests are not counted. Pass rate = passed ÷ all first tests; a car with a fault fixed during the test (PRS) counts as a fail. Our national first-test pass rate matches DVSA’s published figure (table DVSA/MOT/01) to within 0.04 points in every year. Clean pass = passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded. Mileage is the reading recorded at the test. Comparisons are with all cars first used in 2019, any make or fuel, and are not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use. Failure and advisory item names are DVSA’s own wording. No figure is shown for fewer than 500 tests; an item is shown only if it appears on at least 50 tests and 1% of the base. Pass rates describe a group of cars, not one car: a well-kept example can pass and a neglected one can fail. This page is general information, not advice about any particular vehicle; always have a used car inspected before you buy. SortedCars is not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. You can check any car’s MOT history free on the official service: gov.uk/check-mot-history. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.