Performance by cohort

3 year bands · 5,534 tests

Pass rate climbs 12.0 points across the cohorts — newer Unclassified examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.

Pre-2018 cohort 4,510

Pass

76.8%

Fail

18.4%

PRS

3.5%

Avg mileage at test

83,971 mi

2018–2020 cohort 656

Pass

87.2%

Fail

7.6%

PRS

5.2%

Avg mileage at test

42,173 mi

2021+ cohort 368

Pass

88.9%

Fail

6.8%

PRS

3.8%

Avg mileage at test

18,083 mi

Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.

The picture

Unclassified: middle-of-the-pack on first-time pass

Across 3,002 MOT tests, the Unclassified returns 76.5% first-time pass — roughly in line with the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. A number-plate lamp out and windscreen damage round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 76,291, 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.

ABI Insurance Group

Group 10–28

Below the fleet average — generally reasonable to insure. Lower groups cost less to insure; UK fleet average is around Group 22.

Source: ABI Group Rating Panel · administered by Thatcham Research · groups cover standard variants; performance trims may sit higher. Browse all insurance groups →

10–28

out of 50

Compare quotes →

Top ten reasons for rejection.

Filter failures:

Hide wear items to see the model's real defects.

01

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

115 occurrences · 2.1% of tests
02

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

98 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
03

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

97 occurrences · 1.8% of tests
04

Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen

94 occurrences · 1.7% of tests
05

A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

84 occurrences · 1.5% of tests
06

Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded

78 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
07

Wiper blade defective

55 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
08

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

54 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
09

A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated

53 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
10

An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

51 occurrences · 0.9% 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 2 failures

£28–£80

If every one of this Unclassified'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 →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Year-band analysis

Best year to buy. Worst to avoid.

First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 12.1-point gap between bands means the year you buy Ford Unclassified has a real effect on what turns up at the garage.

Best band to buy

88.9%

2021+ registration

the 2021-on band climbs to 88.9% — a 12.1-point improvement. Tests in this band average 18,083 miles — roughly 66K miles fewer on the clock than the older band. Failures here are mostly wear items: projected beam image is obviously incorrect, has a cut in excess of the… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.

Band to be cautious about

76.8%

Pre-2018 registration

On the older band (pre-2018), the data shows a 76.8% pass rate against a fleet average of 88.9% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view, inoperative in the case of multiple lamps…, and prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength. Average mileage on test for this band is 83,971 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.

Best band to buy: 2021+ (88.9% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: pre-2018 (76.8% pass). That's a 12.1-point spread across 4,510 older tests and 368 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.

Year-spread leaderboard →

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

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

Item 02 · Amazon UK

Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades

Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.

Search Amazon UK

My Motor World · affiliate

Parts & supplies for this fix

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Summit

Summit ADRG-18 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS

£8.79

View at My Motor World →

Summit

Summit ADRG-10 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS

£9.89

View at My Motor World →

Summit

Summit ADRG-47 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass LHS

£9.89

View at My Motor World →

Summit

Summit ADRG-85 Ford Replacement Stick-On Tinted Mirror Glass RHS

£9.89

View at My Motor World →

Click Mechanic · affiliate

Book a mobile mechanic

Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.

Mobile mechanic · UK-wide

Book a mechanic at your door.

Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.

Get a quote →

Recall history

6 UK recalls on record.

The Unclassified has 6 official UK vehicle recalls covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.

See all recalls

Buying or keeping an Unclassified?

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 an Unclassified 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.