Ford Ka Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Ford Ka 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 319,231 MOT tests across 23 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol
78%
Ford Ka pass rate
85%
Ford average
82%
All-model average
The Ford Ka has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, which is 7 points below the Ford average and 4 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer Ford Kas pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 14 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Ford Ka Fails Its MOT On
Of the 57,029 MOT tests on the Ford Ka 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.
Suspension
45%Cars and vans the same age: 36% (the Ka fails on this more often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Lights and electrics
37%Cars and vans the same age: 41% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
23%Cars and vans the same age: 23% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
18%Cars and vans the same age: 21% · Typical repair £50-£300
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
16%Cars and vans the same age: 15% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Stop lamp: not working (9.8% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (9.7% of failed tests, suspension)
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (8.9% of failed tests, suspension)
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.
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Ford Ka 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 Ka 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 Ka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Petrol | 1.2L | 92% | 7% | 91% (+1) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.2L | 88% | 11% | 89% (-1) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.2L | 89% | 10% | 87% (+2) |
| 2016 | Petrol | 1.2L | 83% | 17% | 86% (-3) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.2L | 81% | 19% | 84% (-3) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 1.2L | 81% | 19% | 82% (-1) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.2L | 79% | 20% | 80% (-1) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 1.2L | 77% | 22% | 79% (-2) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 1.2L | 76% | 24% | 77% (-1) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 1.2L | 73% | 26% | 75% (-2) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 1.6L | 72% | 27% | 75% (-3) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 1.3L | 63% | 35% | 74% (-11) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 1.6L | 64% | 34% | 73% (-9) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 1.6L | 64% | 35% | 73% (-9) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 1.6L | 64% | 34% | 73% (-9) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 1.6L | 64% | 34% | 72% (-8) |
| 2003 | Petrol | 1.3L | 66% | 33% | 72% (-6) |
| 2002 | Petrol | 1.3L | 63% | 35% | 73% (-10) |
| 2001 | Petrol | 1.3L | 64% | 35% | - |
| 2000 | Petrol | 1.3L | 69% | 30% | - |
| 1999 | Petrol | 1.3L | 62% | 37% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 1.3L | 71% | 29% | - |
| 1997 | Petrol | 1.3L | 72% | 26% | - |
Ford Ka Running Costs
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Ford Ka FAQ
What are the most common Ford Ka problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Ford Ka that failed at the first attempt most often failed on suspension (45% of the 57,029 failed tests), lights and electrics (37%) and brakes (23%). The single most common fault was "Stop lamp: not working" (9.8%). Across 319,231 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 78% ended in a pass.
Is the Ford Ka reliable?
The Ford Ka has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, from 319,231 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 within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Ford Ka years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2008 (63% of 9,719 tests passed, against 74% for all 2008 cars), the 2002 (63% of 1,635 tests passed, against 73% for all 2002 cars) and the 2007 (64% of 7,814 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 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 Ka faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Ford Ka 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 Ka
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Other Ford Models
Common problems pages for other Ford models