2018 Ford Ka MOT pass rate, common failures & what to check

In 2025, 79.9% of Ford Kas first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. Across 32,940 Ka first tests from 2023 to 2025, the most common failure areas were lamps and electrical equipment, tyres and steering.

This page analyses first MOT tests for Ford Kas first used in 2018 (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
79.9%
of 10,932 first tests; all cars first used in 2018: 80.9%. Fixed-at-the-test counts as a fail
Tests analysed
32,940
first tests, 2023–2025; 10,932 in 2025
Clean pass, 2025
48.5%
of 10,932 first tests in 2025, passed with no advisory and no minor defect recorded
Typical mileage, tested in 2025
34,500
middle half: 23,000–47,500 miles; all cars first used in 2018: 52,000

How the 2018 Ford Ka MOT pass rate has changed

Share of first tests passed in each year, Kas first used in 2018 against all cars first used in 2018 (any make or fuel; not adjusted for mileage, fuel or use). In 2025 the Ka figure was 1.0 points lower.

2018 KaAll cars first used in 2018
70%80%90%100%20212022202320242025Test year (first tests)All cars first used in 2018, test year 2021: 87.6%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2022: 86.3%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2023: 84.2%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2024: 82.5%All cars first used in 2018, test year 2025: 80.9%2018 Ka, test year 2021: 91.1%2018 Ka, test year 2022: 88.7%2018 Ka, test year 2023: 85.9%2018 Ka, test year 2024: 83%2018 Ka, test year 2025: 79.9%80.9%79.9%
View this chart as a table
Test year2018 KaAll cars first used 2018Ka first tests
202191.1%87.6%11,026
202288.7%86.3%10,989
202385.9%84.2%10,985
202483.0%82.5%11,023
202579.9%80.9%10,932

Common 2018 Ford Ka MOT failures

Share of the 5,617 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%.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment38.2%
Tyres23.0%
Steering16.8%
Brakes16.2%
Visibility16.1%
Body, chassis, structure8.7%
Suspension6.3%
Noise, emissions and leaks4.3%

Most common failure items

DVSA failure itemShare of failed first testsTests
Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play14.9%838
Headlamp: not working on dipped beam11.4%638
Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick10.8%604
Tread depth: below requirements of 1.6mm8.3%468
Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively6.2%349

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

What to check on a 2018 Ford Ka before buying

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

  1. Lamps and electrics. Ask someone to watch while you work the brake lights, indicators, sidelights, dipped and main beam, and the number-plate lamps.
  2. Tyres. Worth checking the tread depth across the whole width of each tyre, and the sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
  3. Steering. Worth feeling for play or knocks in the steering on the test drive, and asking when the tracking was last checked.

Common 2018 Ford Ka MOT advisories

Advisories are points the tester noted that did not fail the car. Most common on 2018 Kas, as a share of all 32,940 first tests, 2023–2025.

DVSA advisory itemShare of first testsTests
Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge13.6%4,467
Brake pads: wearing thin9.0%2,954
Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing8.9%2,946
Track rod end: ball joint has slight play3.7%1,217
Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened3.4%1,105

Questions about the 2018 Ford Ka MOT

What is the MOT pass rate of a 2018 Ford Ka?

In 2025, 79.9% of Kas first used in 2018 passed their MOT first time, against 80.9% for all cars first used in 2018. A car fixed during the test counts as a fail.

What does a 2018 Ka most often fail its MOT on?

Lamps and electrical equipment (in 38.2% of failed first tests, 2023–2025), tyres (23.0%) and steering (16.8%). The single most common item was “Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play” (14.9%).

How often does a 2018 Ford Ka fail its MOT?

In 2025, 20.1% of first tests on Kas first used in 2018 did not pass first time: 15.5% failed, and a further 4.6% had a fault fixed during the test (counted as a fail here). Across 2023–2025, 5,617 of 32,940 first tests did not pass first time.

What are the most common 2018 Ford Ka MOT advisories?

“Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge” (on 13.6% of first tests, 2023–2025), “Brake pads: wearing thin” (9.0%), “Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing” (8.9%), “Track rod end: ball joint has slight play” (3.7%) and “Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened” (3.4%).

Is a 2018 Ford Ka 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 91.1% in 2021 to 79.9% in 2025. For one particular car, its own MOT history matters more than the average.

Other cars first used in 2018

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

2018 Ford Fiesta MOT statistics · 2018 Volkswagen Golf MOT statistics · 2018 Vauxhall Corsa MOT statistics · 2018 Ford Focus MOT statistics · 2018 Nissan Qashqai MOT statistics

How the 2018 Ford Ka 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. “2018 Ka” means a Ford Ka whose date of first use falls in 2018 (67, 18 and 68 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 2018, 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.