Used car guide

2018 Ford Journey: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Ford Journey first registered in 2018: we looked at the 273 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 273 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

273MOTs of 2018 cars, done in 2023–2025
64%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 83%)
23,000typical miles a year
49×the usual rate for seat belts

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2018 Ford Journey?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2018 Ford Journey than on all cars registered in 2018.

  • Seat belts49× usual
    Ford Journey
    24.5% All 2018 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.8%, against 0.2% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock and retract smoothly.

  • Rigid brake pipes24.2× usual
    Ford Journey
    12.1% All 2018 cars
    0.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.9%, against 0.1% of all 2018 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Common 2018 Ford Journey MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2018 Ford Journey MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    37% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    29% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    29% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    19% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2018 Ford Journey

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the seat belts? (Flagged at MOT 49× as often on the 2018 Ford Journey as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the rigid brake pipes? (Flagged at MOT 24.2× as often on the 2018 Ford Journey as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Journey?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Ford Journey compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020–Too few tests
2019–Too few tests
2017184Tyres 29%
2016–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Ford Journey cars first registered in 2018. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score