Used car guide · 1972–2026

Ford Mustang common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Ford Mustang, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 45,458 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2025 Ford Mustang

Cars registered in 2025 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Ford Mustang as a whole.

650on the UK register at the end of 2025
2028first MOT due
Electricmost common fuel (also petrol)
What to check on a 2025 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202620252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200120001999199719961995199419781972

What usually goes wrong with a Ford Mustang?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Ford Mustang in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Ford Mustang MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Handbrake performance

    up to 22× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

    Rough price £80–£300 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull the handbrake on a slope. It should hold the car within a few clicks.

  • Wheel bearings

    up to 6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2016 and 2017.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

Ford Mustang MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2008 Ford Mustang did best (83% passed first time, 26 points above all 2008 cars) and the 2019 did worst (84%, 1 point below all 2019 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202384%92% -8109 (small sample)
202290%89% +15,384
202190%87% +36,040
202087%87% +03,169
201984%85% -13,619
201883%83% +06,227
201783%80% +35,628
201682%77% +57,630
201585%74% +111,035
201485%70% +15325 (small sample)
201387%67% +20333 (small sample)
201282%64% +18292 (small sample)
201178%62% +16250 (small sample)
201085%60% +25319 (small sample)
200984%59% +25285 (small sample)
200883%57% +26651
200783%57% +26875
200682%56% +26829
200581%57% +24997
200478%57% +21186 (small sample)
200384%57% +27148 (small sample)
200177%60% +17128 (small sample)
200070%61% +9154 (small sample)
199981%63% +18144 (small sample)
199786%65% +21108 (small sample)
199678%66% +12194 (small sample)
199574%67% +7204 (small sample)
199479%67% +12195 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Ford Mustang

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

  1. Any recent work on the handbrake performance? (Flagged at MOT 22× as often on the Ford Mustang as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 6× as often on the Ford Mustang as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Mustang?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score