CarCostCheck

FORD KA (2011)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 29,810 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,675

£140/month

MOT Pass Rate

76%

Average

Road Tax

£165

Based on CC/year

Insurance

Grp 5-15

1200cc Petrol

Check Carefully

76% pass rate, £1675/year to run. 6 points below average.

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Petrol1200cc15 years old29,810 tests71k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1200cc)

~50 mpg

£955
Road Tax

Based on 1200cc

£165
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs
£500
Total per year£1,675
Per month£140/mo
Per week£32/wk

Based on 7,400 miles/year (UK average), current fuel prices, and repair likelihood from MOT data. Insurance not included.

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Reliability Verdict

76% MOT pass rate(Average)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Average reliability. Expect some repairs as it ages. That's 6 points below the national average of 82%. It falls below the FORD brand average of 85%.

At 15 years old, 76% of FORD KAs from 2011 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 29,810 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 70,554 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2011 cars411th of 615(top 67%)
Rank among FORD models899th of 1,167(top 77%)
vs national average-6%(82% avg)
vs 2011 cars average-1%(77% avg)
vs FORD average-9%(85% avg)

Mileage Analysis

70,554

Average miles

vs

111,000

Expected for age

The average 2011 FORD KA has 70,554 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 111,000 miles for a 15-year-old car. This suggests lighter use than average, which generally means less wear on major components.

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Best Year to Buy?

The most reliable year is the 2019 model with a 92% MOT pass rate, while the 1999 model has the lowest at 62%. The 2011 sits between the two at 76%.

FORD KA by Year

YearPass RateTestsAvg Mileage
201992%14,84026,387 mi
201888%16,84432,597 mi
201789%19,89437,584 mi
201683%13,95842,904 mi
201581%22,49947,390 mi
201481%31,48553,659 mi
201379%32,11259,926 mi
201277%30,28064,612 mi
201176%29,81070,554 mi
201073%34,85375,495 mi
200972%34,94778,404 mi
200863%9,71956,797 mi
200764%7,81456,265 mi
200664%5,37754,905 mi
200564%4,53653,788 mi
200464%3,76455,570 mi
200366%2,73357,298 mi
200263%1,63550,236 mi
200164%86852,111 mi
200069%39247,147 mi
199962%44748,623 mi
199871%26947,606 mi
199772%15546,789 mi

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About the 2011 FORD KA

The 2011 FORD KA is a city car with a 1200cc petrol engine. 29,810 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it one of the most commonly tested cars on UK roads. Among all cars from 2011, the average MOT pass rate is 77%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 70,554 miles at 15 years old, FORD KA owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2011 FORD KA Fuel Costs

The modest 1200cc petrol engine keeps fuel costs low, which is a real advantage for a city car. Expect around 50 mpg in mixed driving, which works out to roughly £955 per year at current petrol prices of 142p per litre (based on 7,400 miles per year).

What does it cost to own a 2011 FORD KA?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,675 140/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £165 road tax, £55 MOT, and £500 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 76% pass rate. Keeping on top of servicing will help avoid surprises.

FORD KA Reliability Trend

Newer FORD KAs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 14 percentage points.

Buying a Used 2011 FORD KA

At 15 years old, the FORD KA is firmly in budget territory. Purchase prices are low, but check for rust, worn suspension bushes, and electrical gremlins. A full service history is especially valuable at this age. If you're flexible on year, the 2019 model has the highest pass rate at 92%. With 29,810 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2011 FORD KA's fuel type, age, and engine size, these are the most likely problem areas to check.

Coil Pack Failure

Medium risk

Smaller petrol engines are prone to ignition coil failures, causing misfires and rough running. Replacement is £50-£150 per coil.

Rust and Corrosion

Watch out

At 10+ years, check wheel arches, sills, subframe, and brake lines for rust. Structural corrosion is an MOT failure. Prevention is far cheaper than repair.

Suspension Bushings

Watch out

Rubber suspension bushes harden and crack with age, causing knocking noises and vague handling. A full refresh costs £300-£800 depending on the car.

Service History

Low risk

Always request a full service history. Regular servicing is the single best indicator of how well a car has been maintained, regardless of mileage.

Running Costs Compared

How the 2011 FORD KA stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
FORD KA(2011)76%£955£165Grp 5-15£1675
VAUXHALL CORSA(2012)76%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1722+£47
FORD FOCUS(2013)78%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827+£152
NISSAN QASHQAI(2013)72%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1827+£152
VOLKSWAGEN POLO(2011)75%£955£30Grp 5-15£1540-£135

Estimates based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT data. Insurance groups are indicative. Actual costs vary by driver, location, and usage.

Related Ford Models

Explore other Ford cars or similar models in the same category.

Related Guides

In-depth articles relevant to the Ford Ka.

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