Does the Ford Explorer fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The Ford Explorer records 23.45 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 21.53 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+1.92, 95% interval +0.45 to +3.39). It ranks 232 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a Ford Explorer by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford Explorer is “Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement”, recorded 186 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 186 | 4.47 |
| Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | 117 | 2.81 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 111 | 2.67 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 81 | 1.95 |
| Warning device shows system malfunction | 60 | 1.44 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 4,162 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
If a Ford Explorer gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
16.7% of Ford Explorer MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 2,057 miles later (807 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 807 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Ford Explorer in Norway · Ford Explorer in the Netherlands · Ford Explorer by postcode area · Ford Explorer body, chassis and structure failures · Ford Explorer vehicle identification failures · Ford Explorer lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · Ford Explorer noise, emissions and leaks failures · Ford Explorer seat belts and airbags failures · Ford Explorer steering failures · Ford Explorer suspension failures · Ford Explorer tyres failures · Ford Explorer visibility failures