Does the Ford Ka fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?

The Ford Ka records 30.55 suspension failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 16.70 expected for a car of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+13.85, 95% interval +13.75 to +13.95). It ranks 33 of 701 models on suspension (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on suspension · check a Ford Ka by registration

What exactly fails on suspension?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford Ka is “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”, recorded 111,904 times in 2019–2024.

Ford Ka: most frequent suspension defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
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	111,904	9.20
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	99,843	8.21
A shock absorber bush excessively worn	32,845	2.70
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage	30,886	2.54
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened	30,471	2.51

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 1,216,040 (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 Ka gets a suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?

24.8% of Ford Ka MOTs with a suspension advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12 months and 3,807 miles later (241,162 advisories followed).

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 241,162 (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

Does the Ford Ka fail the MOT on suspension more than it should?

What exactly fails on suspension?

If a Ford Ka gets a suspension advisory, how often does it fail next time?

Related pages

Other pages for this model