Ford

Ford Mustang (2018)

2,150 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.9% first-time pass rate

2018 Ford Mustang

CarHunch analysed 2,150 real MOT records for the 2018 Ford Mustang. 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 Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Ford Mustang passes its MOT first time 88.9% of the time, comfortably ahead of the UK average of 80%—a solid reliability indicator. However, nearly 23% of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is worth taking seriously when inspecting a used example.

At an average mileage of 24,354 miles for a six-year-old car, these Mustangs are running relatively low, suggesting they've been treated as weekend or leisure vehicles rather than daily workhorses. The average of 0.74 failures and 3.7 advisories per test points to minor wear items rather than structural problems, so focus your pre-purchase inspection on the dangerous defect history and have any potential purchase checked by a Mustang-specialist mechanic.

The 2018 Ford Mustang passes its MOT first time at roughly the UK average rate (88.9%) — solid but worth checking this vehicle's history carefully.

⚠️ 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
88.9%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
22.9%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.74
Over 5.7 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
22k
Middle half: 15k–32k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 88.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.
🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 3.7 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 2,150 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.

Average reliability — agree?

What tends to go wrong

Across 2,150 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 31.4%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front 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.
Brake wear 15.5%
Parking brake efficiency below requirements · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Other issues 9.5%
COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION
Suspension & steering 8%
Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play
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 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 2,150 Ford Mustang cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2018 Ford Mustang

Based on MOT data from 2,150 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 22.9% 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 19,029 Ford Mustang vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 21%
3,998
Blue 17.4%
3,320
Black 16.2%
3,079
Grey 12%
2,288
White 9.3%
1,764
Green 8.8%
1,668
Yellow 5.1%
969
Silver 5%
944
Orange 3.6%
688
Maroon 0.8%
144
Gold 0.5%
93
Purple 0.4%
74

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Ford Mustang 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.

22,430
typical
14,949
low mileage
31,646
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Ford Mustang vehicles fall between 14,949 and 31,646 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 14,949 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.
14,949–31,646 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Ford Mustangs sit.
Over 42,722 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Ford Mustang — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Ford Mustangs are still on the road.

Strong survival — 1,979 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 97% of the peak.

2,048 1,979 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

5.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.74
Avg failures per vehicle
3.7
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Ford Mustang: All Mustang years → Which year to buy? →
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Average reliability — agree?