Ford Ranger MOT Failures
An analysis of 925,889 real DVSA MOT tests on the Ford Ranger — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: Gen1 (1999–2006), Gen2 (2006–2011), Gen3 (2011–2022), Gen4 (2019–2024).
Where the Ford Ranger fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Ford Ranger is free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... — this model is 371 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it an extreme outlier for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 925,889 MOT tests, 3.05% of all Ford Ranger tests recorded this as a failure.
Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.
Other notable weak points include load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ab... (236x the fleet average), transmission joint, belt or chain so worn it is (170x the fleet average), steering rack wear (153x the fleet average), and coil springs broken (95x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Ford Ranger's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.
The failures span 5 categories: Steering, Brakes, Bodywork, Suspension, Lights & Electrics. If you're inspecting a Ford Ranger before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.
How failures change with mileage
The Ford Ranger's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.
Under 60,000 miles
At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.
For the Ford Ranger specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fixings missing or insecure (546x the average) and abs fault (348x). towbar fault (303x) and load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ab... (236x) also appear frequently.
60,000 to 100,000 miles
This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.
For the Ford Ranger specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (227x the average) and transmission joint, belt or chain so worn it is (170x). steering rack wear (153x) and load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ab... (138x) also appear frequently.
Over 100,000 miles
High-mileage cars accumulate failures across multiple systems. The key question isn't whether things will need doing — they will — but whether the car has been maintained well enough to keep on top of them. Look for a consistent service history and recent MOT passes with minimal advisories.
For the Ford Ranger specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are abs fault (122x the average) and front or rear fog lamp emitted colour, position... (114x). track rod ends worn (113x) and free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (110x) also appear frequently.
The shift from fixings missing or insecure at lower mileages to abs fault at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.
Known issues beyond the MOT
An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Ford Ranger specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Chassis mounting point corrosion Dangerous
The Ranger's chassis suffers from severe corrosion at suspension and body mounting points, particularly where the leaf spring brackets attach to the main rails. Affects Gen1, Gen2; typical independent garage repair cost is £2,000–£4,000.
Leaf spring failure Dangerous
The Ranger's rear leaf springs are prone to fracturing, particularly the main load-bearing leaf. Affects Gen1, Gen2, Gen3; typical independent garage repair cost is £600–£1,000.
Steering rack excessive play Major
The Ranger's steering rack develops excessive free play, showing 247 times the fleet average failure rate in MOT data. Affects Gen1, Gen2; typical independent garage repair cost is £600–£1,000.
Turbo failure (Duratorq) Major
Duratorq diesel engines suffer from turbocharger failure due to oil starvation, carbon buildup on the variable geometry mechanism, and bearing wear. Affects Gen1, Gen2, Gen3; typical independent garage repair cost is £800–£1,500.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Ford Ranger common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Ford Ranger
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Ford Ranger:
Steering — check for free play in the steering, measured at the rim ..., steering rack wear. Brakes — check for load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ab.... Bodywork — check for transmission joint, belt or chain so worn it is, fixings missing or insecure.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about chassis mounting point corrosion and leaf spring failure. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £2,000. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Ford Ranger?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Ford Ranger MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Ranger?
Based on 925,889 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... — at 371x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include load sensing valve seized or inoperative and ab... and transmission joint, belt or chain so worn it is.
Is the Ford Ranger reliable based on MOT data?
The Ford Ranger has 18 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag chassis mounting point corrosion as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
Above 100,000 miles, the Ford Ranger most commonly fails on abs fault and front or rear fog lamp emitted colour, position.... Under 60,000 miles, the main issues are fixings missing or insecure and abs fault.
How do I check a Ford Ranger's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.