Used car guide

2021 Ford Ecosport Active: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Ford Ecosport Actives, from 550 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

550MOT tests in 2025
86%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
5,700typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for tyre condition

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2021 Ford Ecosport Actives than on all cars registered in 2021.

  • Tyre condition1.9× usual
    Ford Ecosport Active
    21.6% All 2021 cars
    11.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.1%, against 3.5% of all 2021 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges. Uneven wear can point to tracking or suspension problems.

By area

The share of 2021 Ford Ecosport Active 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.

  • Brakes
    10% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    5% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    3% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Seats and seatbelts
    2% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,047Tyres 23%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2021 Ford Ecosport Actives registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score