Does the Ford Explorer fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Ford Explorer records 33.11 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 32.41 expected for a car of the same age mix: about as expected for its class and age (the difference is within its interval or under 0.5 items per 100 tests) (+0.70, 95% interval −1.05 to +2.45). It ranks 253 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Ford Explorer by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford Explorer is “A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier”, recorded 174 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A battery insecure but not likely to fall from carrier | 174 | 4.18 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 164 | 3.94 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 135 | 3.24 |
| 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 | 133 | 3.20 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 101 | 2.43 |
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
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 brakes failures · Ford Explorer vehicle identification 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