Ford Fiesta (2018)

92,986 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.4% first-time pass rate

2018 Ford Fiesta

CarHunch analysed 92,986 real MOT records for the 2018 Ford Fiesta. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Average reliability 9.4% above UK average
89.4%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
31,278
typical mileage
22,230–41,937 middle half
22.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.72
avg MOT failures per car
over 5.8 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

89.5%
Petrol
89,912 vehicles
86%
Diesel
3,066 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2018 Ford Fiesta

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 22.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Ford Fiesta

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (97%) 89,912 89.5% 0.71
Diesel (3%) 3,066 86% 0.94
Other (0%) 6 100% 0
Gas (0%) 1 50% 1
Other (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Ford Fiesta vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

22,230
low mileage
31,278
typical
41,937
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Ford Fiesta vehicles fall between 22,230 and 41,937 miles.

2018 Ford Fiesta — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 89,700 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 99% of the peak.

90,431 89,700 2021 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2021–2025.

MOT History Averages

5.8
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.72
Avg failures per vehicle
5
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2018 Ford Fiesta

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 42.6%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 42.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 31.7%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 26.5%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 24.3%
    Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 22.4%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 19.4%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 12.5%
    Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Ford Fiesta?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Ford Fiesta:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023