MOT cost .

Ford

Freda

1,243 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where Fredas pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 11.9 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.

Pass

63.8%

Pass-after-fix

3.9%

Fail

31.0%

Avg miles

140,694

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

Freda: a below-average pass rate worth digging into

Across 1,243 MOT tests, the Freda returns 63.8% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. Structural corrosion and a defective headlamp lens round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 140,694, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    240 occurrences · 19.3% of tests

  2. 02

    Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced

    87 occurrences · 7.0% of tests

  3. 03

    Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective

    85 occurrences · 6.8% of tests

  4. 04

    A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

    62 occurrences · 5.0% of tests

  5. 05

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources

    60 occurrences · 4.8% of tests

  6. 06

    Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

    59 occurrences · 4.7% of tests

  7. 07

    Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view

    50 occurrences · 4.0% of tests

  8. 08

    A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc

    49 occurrences · 3.9% of tests

  9. 09

    The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired

    47 occurrences · 3.8% of tests

  10. 10

    Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated

    46 occurrences · 3.7% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures

£98–£355

If every one of this Freda's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

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Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

H7 / W21W bulb pack

A spare-bulb kit lives in the boot. Test morning is not the time to find your stop-lamp's gone.

Search Amazon UK

Buying or keeping a Freda?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a Freda and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.