Ford Galaxy Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Ford Galaxy fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 112,357 MOT tests across 26 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol, LPG
77%
Ford Galaxy pass rate
85%
Ford average
82%
All-model average
The Ford Galaxy has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, which is 8 points below the Ford average and 5 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Ford Galaxys pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 13 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
Check Your Ford Galaxy's MOT History
Enter your reg plate to see the specific issues found on your car, plus a health score and running cost estimate.
What the Ford Galaxy Fails Its MOT On
Of the 19,480 MOT tests on the Ford Galaxy that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
53%Cars and vans the same age: 40% (the Galaxy fails on this more often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
29%Cars and vans the same age: 35% · Typical repair £150-£600
Tyres
24%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £50-£300
Brakes
21%Cars and vans the same age: 23% · Typical repair £80-£450
Body, chassis and structure
18%Cars and vans the same age: 13% (the Galaxy fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Position lamp: not working (21% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Stop lamp: not working (11% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Tyre tread depth below the 1.6mm limit (8.9% of failed tests, tyres)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
Buying a Ford Galaxy? Check it first
See that car's own MOT history and mileage free, then check it for outstanding finance, an insurance write-off and a stolen record before you pay.
History check £4.99, one-off. No subscription.
Ford Galaxy Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Galaxy year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points more often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Ford Galaxy Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Diesel | 2.0L | 84% | 16% | 93% (-9) |
| 2020 | Diesel | 2.0L | 88% | 11% | 92% (-4) |
| 2019 | Diesel | 2.0L | 87% | 13% | 91% (-4) |
| 2018 | Diesel | 2.0L | 87% | 12% | 89% (-2) |
| 2017 | Diesel | 2.0L | 87% | 13% | 87% (0) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 2.0L | 87% | 12% | 86% (+1) |
| 2015 | Diesel | 2.0L | 78% | 21% | 84% (-6) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 2.0L | 75% | 24% | 82% (-7) |
| 2013 | Diesel | 1.6L | 75% | 25% | 80% (-5) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 2.0L | 74% | 26% | 79% (-5) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 2.0L | 73% | 26% | 77% (-4) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 2.0L | 73% | 27% | 75% (-2) |
| 2009 | Diesel | 2.0L | 73% | 27% | 75% (-2) |
| 2008 | Diesel | 2.0L | 71% | 28% | 74% (-3) |
| 2007 | Diesel | 2.0L | 70% | 29% | 73% (-3) |
| 2006 | Diesel | 1.8L | 68% | 31% | 73% (-5) |
| 2005 | Diesel | 1.9L | 65% | 34% | 73% (-8) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 2.3L | 64% | 35% | 72% (-8) |
| 2003 | Diesel | 1.9L | 65% | 33% | 72% (-7) |
| 2002 | Diesel | 1.9L | 69% | 30% | - |
| 2001 | Petrol | 2.3L | 66% | 33% | - |
| 2000 | Diesel | 1.9L | 67% | 33% | - |
| 1999 | Diesel | 1.9L | 64% | 36% | - |
| 1998 | LPG | 2.8L | 72% | 28% | - |
| 1997 | Diesel | 1.9L | 67% | 33% | - |
| 1996 | Petrol | 2.0L | 68% | 32% | - |
Ford Galaxy Running Costs
Want to know the full annual running costs for the Ford Galaxy? Including fuel, road tax, the MOT and predicted repairs based on MOT pass rates, plus an estimated insurance group.
View Ford Galaxy Running CostsCar history check for £4.99
Finance, stolen and write-off checks
Outstanding finance with the lender's details, stolen, write-off and keeper changes. One payment, no subscription.
Comparing checks first? See the cheapest car check in the UK and the best car check providers compared.
Ford Galaxy FAQ
What are the most common Ford Galaxy problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Ford Galaxy that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (53% of the 19,480 failed tests), suspension (29%) and tyres (24%). The single most common fault was "Position lamp: not working" (21%). Across 112,357 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 77% ended in a pass.
Is the Ford Galaxy reliable?
The Ford Galaxy has an average MOT pass rate of 77%, from 112,357 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 4 points less often on average, so check the history of any example carefully.
Which Ford Galaxy years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2021 (84% of 2,862 tests passed, against 93% for all 2021 cars), the 2005 (65% of 2,979 tests passed, against 73% for all 2005 cars) and the 2004 (64% of 1,728 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Ford Galaxy faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Ford Galaxy typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
Check a Specific Ford Galaxy
Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.
Other Ford Models
Common problems pages for other Ford models