CarCostCheck

FORD KA (2018)

Running costs, reliability data, and common problems from 16,844 real MOT tests.

Annual Cost

£1,555

£130/month

MOT Pass Rate

88%

Good

Road Tax

£195

Flat rate/year

Insurance

Grp 5-15

1198cc Petrol

Solid Option

88% pass rate, £1555/year to run. 6 points above average.

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Petrol1198cc8 years old16,844 tests33k miles avg

Annual Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 1198cc)

~50 mpg

£955
Road Tax

Flat rate (post-2017)

£195
MOT Test
£55
Predicted Repairs
£350
Total per year£1,555
Per month£130/mo
Per week£30/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

88% MOT pass rate(Good)
0%National avg: 82%100%

Good reliability. Occasional issues but generally solid. That's 6 points above the national average of 82%.

At 8 years old, 88% of FORD KAs from 2018 passed their MOT first time in 2026. That's based on 16,844 tests across the UK. The average mileage at this age is 32,597 miles.

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How Does It Compare?

Rank among 2018 cars436th of 649(top 67%)
Rank among FORD models517th of 1,167(top 44%)
vs national average+6%(82% avg)
vs 2018 cars average-1%(89% avg)
vs FORD average+3%(85% avg)

Mileage Analysis

32,597

Average miles

vs

59,200

Expected for age

The average 2018 FORD KA has 32,597 miles on the clock, which is below the expected 59,200 miles for a 8-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 2018 sits between the two at 88%.

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 2018 FORD KA

The 2018 FORD KA is a city car with a 1198cc petrol engine. 16,844 of these vehicles were MOT tested in 2026, making it one of the most commonly tested cars on UK roads. Among all cars from 2018, the average MOT pass rate is 89%, and this model falls short of that benchmark.

With an average of 32,597 miles at 8 years old, FORD KA owners tend to use this car less than the typical driver.

2018 FORD KA Fuel Costs

The modest 1198cc 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 2018 FORD KA?

Total estimated annual running cost is £1,555 130/month), broken down as £955 fuel, £195 road tax, £55 MOT, and £350 predicted repairs. Repair costs are moderate, reflecting the 88% 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 2018 FORD KA

At 8 years old, this is a solid used buy if you find one with good service history. Depreciation has levelled off, so you won't lose much more value. Focus on condition over mileage. If you're flexible on year, the 2019 model has the highest pass rate at 92%. With 16,844 MOT tests in our data, there's strong statistical confidence in these figures.

Common Issues to Watch For

Based on the 2018 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.

Suspension Wear

Medium risk

Shock absorbers, springs, and anti-roll bar links typically need attention around this age. Listen for clunks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear.

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 2018 FORD KA stacks up against similar cars for annual running costs, insurance, and tax.

CarPass RateFuel/yrTax/yrInsuranceTotal/yr
FORD KA(2018)88%£955£195Grp 5-15£1555
FORD FIESTA(2016)81%£955£30Grp 1-8£1390-£165
VAUXHALL CORSA(2016)81%£1137£30Grp 8-20£1572+£17
FORD FOCUS(2016)87%£1137£135Grp 12-25£1677+£122
NISSAN QASHQAI(2017)86%£955£190Grp 5-15£1550-£5

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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