Used car guide

2018 Ford Freedom: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2018 Ford Freedoms, from 265 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 265 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

265MOT tests in 2025
77%pass first time (all 2018 cars: 81%)
6,000typical miles a year
25%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

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

  • Tyres
    25% 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
    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.

  • Lights and electrics
    10% 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
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    5% 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.

  • Suspension
    4% 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.

Looking at a Ford Freedom?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2020150Tyres 25%
2017529Tyres 27%
2016344Tyres 26%

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