Used car guide

2017 Ford Ecosport: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2017 Ford Ecosports, from 13,156 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

13,156MOT tests in 2025
71%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
6,200typical miles a year
6.3×the usual rate for coil springs

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2017 Ford Ecosports than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Coil springs6.3× usual
    Ford Ecosport
    18.2% All 2017 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Brake lights7.5× usual
    Ford Ecosport
    9.8% All 2017 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.7%, against 1.1% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Exhaust system5.7× usual
    Ford Ecosport
    8.5% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.4% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Steering swivel joints16.3× usual
    Ford Ecosport
    4.9% All 2017 cars
    0.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.6%, against 0.1% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Individual direction indicators9× usual
    Ford Ecosport
    3.6% All 2017 cars
    0.4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

By area

The share of 2017 Ford Ecosport MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    29% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Brakes
    20% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    10% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

Looking at a Ford Ecosport?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023622Tyres 27%
20228,798Tyres 24%
20214,586Tyres 28%
20208,859Tyres 31%
201924,691Tyres 31%
201822,486Tyres 31%
201614,041Suspension 37%
201510,269Suspension 44%
20142,452Suspension 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2017 Ford Ecosports registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score