Get Started
Ford

Ford Fiesta (2023)

831 real MOT outcomes analysed • 95.1% first-time pass rate

2023 Ford Fiesta

CarHunch analysed 831 real MOT records for the 2023 Ford Fiesta. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

On this page
AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2023 Ford Fiesta is a strong performer, with a first-time pass rate of 95.1% well ahead of the UK average of 80%—this is genuinely reliable hardware at this age. Dangerous defects are rare at just 4.1%, so you're not facing any systemic safety concerns with this generation.

These cars are running just under 17,000 miles at the median, which is sensible for their age, and when they do fail MOT it's typically minor: only 0.09 failures per vehicle on average. If you're shopping for one, focus your pre-purchase check on the maintenance history rather than worrying about structural weakness—the numbers show this model simply doesn't fail in predictable ways.

The 2023 Ford Fiesta passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (95.1% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

First-time pass
95.1%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
4.1%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.09
Over 1.1 tests on record
Low
Typical mileage
17k
Middle half: 11k–25k
For context
✅ Good baseline reliability. A 95.1% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

These stats describe 831 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

A solid choice — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 831 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 15.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords · …
Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.
Brake wear 6.3%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Lighting 3%
Nearside Front Road wheel slightly distorted
Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.
Other issues 2.7%
Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2023.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 831 Ford Fiesta cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2023 Ford Fiesta

Based on MOT data from 831 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 4.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
    Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
  • 🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection ClickMechanic →
  • 📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 2,807,326 Ford Fiesta vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 24.4%
683,680
Red 18.8%
528,114
Silver 16.9%
473,293
Black 14.9%
418,624
White 11.3%
316,271
Green 5.9%
166,976
Grey 5.4%
152,833
Purple 1.3%
35,536
Yellow 0.3%
9,449
Brown 0.3%
8,774
Orange 0.3%
8,012
Bronze 0.2%
5,764

Mileage Distribution

Most 2023 Ford Fiesta vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

17,149
typical
11,326
low mileage
24,604
high mileage

Half of all 2023 Ford Fiesta vehicles fall between 11,326 and 24,604 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
✓ Under 11,326 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.
✓ 11,326–24,604 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2023 Ford Fiestas sit.
⚠ Over 33,215 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

1.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.09
Avg failures per vehicle
0.5
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Ford Fiesta: All Fiesta years → Which year to buy? →
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 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Or browse all models: Ford →

Ford logo

Compare with another model

See how the 2023 Ford Fiesta stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?