Used car guide

2013 Ford Galaxy: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2013 Ford Galaxys, from 3,709 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

3,709MOT tests in 2025
58%pass first time (all 2013 cars: 66%)
9,800typical miles a year
4×the usual rate for sidelights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2013 Ford Galaxys than on all cars registered in 2013.

  • Sidelights4× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    15.8% All 2013 cars
    4%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.4%, against 3.5% of all 2013 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints3.6× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    11.9% All 2013 cars
    3.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 1.7% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints1.9× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    16.9% All 2013 cars
    8.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.9%, against 1.8% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Number plate lights2.3× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    14.1% All 2013 cars
    6.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.7%, against 1.8% of all 2013 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Brake lights2.6× usual
    Ford Galaxy
    9.5% All 2013 cars
    3.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.7%, against 2.8% of all 2013 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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 1.1% here, against 4.7% of all 2013 cars. Ball joint: 2.5% here, against 5% of all 2013 cars.

By area

The share of 2013 Ford Galaxy MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    45% 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.

  • Tyres
    39% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    39% 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
    31% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    12% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • 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.

Looking at a Ford Galaxy?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20221,229Tyres 26%
20211,422Tyres 27%
20201,673Tyres 27%
20192,587Tyres 27%
20183,498Tyres 29%
20175,198Tyres 31%
20164,685Tyres 33%
20152,397Tyres 36%
20144,129Lights and electrics 39%
20124,173Suspension 51%
20114,042Suspension 52%
20103,809Suspension 54%
20093,320Suspension 56%
20082,822Suspension 62%
20072,570Suspension 65%
20061,250Suspension 63%
2005982Suspension 64%
2004579Suspension 65%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2013 Ford Galaxys registered in 2013. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score