Ford Ka (2014)

18,949 real MOT outcomes analysed • 83% first-time pass rate

2014 Ford Ka

CarHunch analysed 18,949 real MOT records for the 2014 Ford Ka. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2014 Ford Ka passes its MOT slightly more often than the UK average—83% versus 80%—which is a modest positive. However, nearly 4 in 10 of these cars have experienced a dangerous defect at some point, which is a genuine concern for any prospective buyer and worth investigating on a pre-purchase inspection.

At just under 37,000 miles median mileage, these cars have covered relatively low distances for their age, suggesting many are lightly used or well-maintained. The typical Ka accumulates 14.5 advisories over its MOT history, pointing to minor wear items; if you're considering one, budget for routine consumables and always ask the seller for full MOT history to spot patterns of recurring issues.

Below average reliability 3% above UK average
83%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
36,906
typical mileage
26,359–48,763 middle half
38.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.03
avg MOT failures per car
over 10.9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2014 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.
  • ⚠️ 38.9% 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%) 18,945 83% 2.03
Diesel (0%) 2 79.2% 2.5
Other (0%) 2 83.3% 0.5

Mileage Distribution

Most 2014 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.

26,359
low mileage
36,906
typical
48,763
high mileage

Half of all 2014 Ford Ka vehicles fall between 26,359 and 48,763 miles.

2014 Ford Ka — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 17,517 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 95% of the peak.

18,320 17,517 2017 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2017–2025.

MOT History Averages

10.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.03
Avg failures per vehicle
14.5
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2014 Ford Ka

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

  • 49.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 48.3%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 39.5%
    Nearside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil
  • 34.9%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 30.1%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 29.1%
    Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing
  • 27.5%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 26.4%
    Offside Front Shock absorbers has light misting of oil

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2014. 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 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019