Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2011 Ford Mondeo?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2011 Ford Mondeo?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2011 Ford Mondeo?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2011 Ford Mondeo vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

49% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2011 Ford Mondeo reliable?

Based on MOT data from 19,297 vehicles, the 2011 Ford Mondeo has a first-time MOT pass rate of 78.2%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2011 Ford Mondeo?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2011 Ford Mondeo are: Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (66.5% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (54.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2011 Ford Mondeo?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Ford Mondeo (2011)

19,297 real MOT outcomes analysed • 78.2% first-time pass rate

2011 Ford Mondeo

CarHunch analysed 19,297 real MOT records for the 2011 Ford Mondeo. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2011 Ford Mondeo sits just below the UK average at a 78% first-time pass rate, with a serious red flag: nearly half of all vehicles analysed (48.6%) have recorded a dangerous defect at some point. Diesel versions, which make up 85% of the cohort, perform slightly worse at 77.6% than their petrol counterparts at 80.1%, suggesting fuel type matters for this model's reliability.

At nearly 99,000 miles median mileage for a 13-year-old car, these Mondeos have been driven hard and show it — averaging 3.12 failures per test and a notably high 21.1 advisories per vehicle, indicating worn components are commonplace. Before buying one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focusing on brakes, suspension and steering, as the dangerous defect rate tells you these systems are genuine weak points on the model.

The 2011 Ford Mondeo has a decent first-time pass rate (78.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

78.2%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

48.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

3.12

Over 13.4 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

99k

Middle half: 77k–125k

For context

🔧 Average reliability. Passes at roughly the UK rate — not a standout, not a problem vehicle. Individual history makes all the difference.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 21.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 19,297 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.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 19,297 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 66.5%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · 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.

Tyre wear 54.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 35.8%

Oil leak, but not excessive · Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components · Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened · …

Suspension & steering 34.8%

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded · Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 19,297 Ford Mondeo cars.

Before you buy a 2011 Ford Mondeo

Based on MOT data from 19,297 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 48.6% 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (85%)	16,400	77.9%	3.15
Petrol (15%)	2,889	80.4%	2.96

Colour Breakdown

Based on 1,208,758 Ford Mondeo vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 25.2%

304,587

Silver 24.9%

300,839

Black 13.5%

163,755

Red 11.2%

135,920

Green 9.3%

111,926

Grey 8.6%

103,398

White 4.7%

56,780

Purple 1.5%

18,001

Brown 0.7%

8,057

Gold 0.3%

3,723

Maroon 0.1%

1,136

Orange 0.1%

636

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Ford Mondeo 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.

98,876

typical

76,904

low mileage

125,096

high mileage

Half of all 2011 Ford Mondeo vehicles fall between 76,904 and 125,096 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 76,904 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.

✓ 76,904–125,096 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2011 Ford Mondeos sit.

⚠ Over 168,879 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2011 Ford Mondeo — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 62% of 2011 Ford Mondeos are still active.

11,477 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 62% of the peak remain.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

13.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

3.12

Avg failures per vehicle

21.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Ford Mondeo: All Mondeo years → Which year to buy? →

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Watch for defects — worth knowing