Ford Ka (2007)

26,382 real MOT outcomes analysed • 70.7% first-time pass rate

2007 Ford Ka

CarHunch analysed 26,382 real MOT records for the 2007 Ford Ka. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2007 Ford Ka struggles with reliability: a 70.7% first-time pass rate sits well below the UK average of 80%, and nearly 4 in 10 have experienced dangerous defects at some point—a serious concern for any used buyer. This isn't a car that slips through MOT easily.

At 45,000 miles on average, these Kas are relatively low-mileage for their age, yet they rack up 4.45 failures per test, suggesting mechanical wear or neglect rather than simple age-related degradation. Before buying one, get a pre-purchase inspection focused on the cooling system, suspension, and exhaust components—the typical failure patterns for this generation—and budget for prompt repairs.

Below average reliability 9.3% below UK average
70.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
43,806
typical mileage
32,783–55,777 middle half
38.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.45
avg MOT failures per car
over 14.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2007 Ford Ka

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.
  • ⚠️ 38.2% 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 Ka

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

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 26,372 70.7% 4.45
Diesel (0%) 8 71.5% 3.88
Other (0%) 1 0% 1
LPG (0%) 1 64.7% 6

Mileage Distribution

Most 2007 Ford Ka 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.

32,783
low mileage
43,806
typical
55,777
high mileage

Half of all 2007 Ford Ka vehicles fall between 32,783 and 55,777 miles.

2007 Ford Ka — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 2,706 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (11% of peak).

25,068 2,706 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

14.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.45
Avg failures per vehicle
20.5
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2007 Ford Ka

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

  • 52.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 51.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 37.9%
    Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
  • 33.3%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 33.1%
    Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
  • 30.7%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 30.3%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 22.8%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2007. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Ford Ka?

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

UK

Other model years — Ford Ka:

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019