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Ford Explorer MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Ford Explorer. Check any Explorer by registration number below.

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82.9%

Avg Pass Rate

-2.2%

vs Ford Avg

20

Year Ranges

Good

Reliability

Ford Explorer — MOT Reliability Overview

The Ford Explorer has an average MOT pass rate of 82.9%, which is 2.2 percentage points below the Ford brand average of 85.1%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Explorer is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

The most common reasons a Ford Explorer fails its MOT are body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn. If you are preparing your Explorer for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.

Before buying a used Ford Explorer, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Ford Explorer performs at MOT across different model years.

2022

Based on 59 vehicles

84.7%Good
Ford average: 85.1%
Mileage at 3yr

77k mi

2021

Based on 200 vehicles

88.5%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%

2020

Based on 75 vehicles

93.3%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%
Mileage at 5yr

117k mi

2017

Based on 30 vehicles

96.7%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

2016

Based on 40 vehicles

95.0%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

3.2%

2015

Based on 32 vehicles

84.4%Good
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

2014

Based on 50 vehicles

84.0%Good
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

15.8%

Mileage at 10yr

160k mi

2013

Based on 60 vehicles

86.7%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

2.0%

Retest Rate

19.6%

Mileage at 10yr

149k mi

2012

Based on 43 vehicles

100.0%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

2005

Based on 123 vehicles

86.2%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

9.5%

2004

Based on 96 vehicles

74.0%Average
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

3.4%

Retest Rate

16.9%

2003

Based on 71 vehicles

85.9%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

7.1%

Retest Rate

16.7%

2002

Based on 43 vehicles

69.8%Average
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

4.0%

Retest Rate

32.0%

2001

Based on 61 vehicles

85.2%Excellent
Ford average: 85.1%

2000

Based on 233 vehicles

72.1%Average
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

6.9%

Retest Rate

9.0%

1999

Based on 261 vehicles

72.8%Average
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

2.3%

Retest Rate

16.0%

1998

Based on 251 vehicles

63.7%Below Average
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

6.6%

Retest Rate

18.0%

1997

Based on 125 vehicles

76.0%Good
Ford average: 85.1%
Dangerous Defects

4.8%

Retest Rate

16.7%

1995

Based on 50 vehicles

82.0%Good
Ford average: 85.1%

0

Based on 668 vehicles

76.8%Good
Ford average: 85.1%
Mileage at 5yr

97k mi

Top MOT Failures — Ford Explorer

The most common reasons a Ford Explorer fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.

1

Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point

8.4%
2

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

8.0%
3

A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn

7.0%
4

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

6.2%
5

Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value

4.0%

Ford Explorer — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Ford Explorer MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Explorer?
The average MOT pass rate for the Ford Explorer is 82.9% compared to the Ford average of 85.1%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Explorer?
The most common MOT failures on the Ford Explorer are: Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point (8.4%), A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc (8.0%), A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn (7.0%). These are the components most likely to cause an MOT failure.
Is the Ford Explorer reliable?
With an average MOT pass rate of 82.9%, the Ford Explorer is rated as "Good" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.
How do I check the MOT history of a Ford Explorer?
Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.
What mileage should I expect on a Ford Explorer?
Typical mileage for the Ford Explorer: 77,099 miles at 3 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Explorer to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Ford Explorer's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.

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