Used car guide

2001 Ford Ka: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2001 Ford Kas, from 320 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 320 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

320MOT tests in 2025
53%pass first time (all 2001 cars: 61%)
1,900typical miles a year
3.1×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2001 Ford Kas than on all cars registered in 2001.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints3.1× usual
    Ford Ka
    23.4% All 2001 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 7.5%, against 1.5% of all 2001 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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings2.9× usual
    Ford Ka
    22.5% All 2001 cars
    7.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 12.2%, against 4.1% of all 2001 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.

  • Front strut mounts and bushes14× usual
    Ford Ka
    11.2% All 2001 cars
    0.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.2%, against 0.1% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Flexible brake hoses2.7× usual
    Ford Ka
    15.9% All 2001 cars
    6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.9% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £50–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look for cracked or bulging rubber hoses behind the wheels and in the engine bay.

  • Body structure rust or damage2.5× usual
    Ford Ka
    10.3% All 2001 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.9%, against 1.2% of all 2001 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

By area

The share of 2001 Ford Ka MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    59% 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.

  • Brakes
    38% 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.

  • Tyres
    31% 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
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    26% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a Ford Ka?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20199,990Tyres 25%
201810,917Tyres 28%
201713,239Tyres 29%
20168,248Suspension 36%
201513,086Suspension 48%
201418,221Suspension 48%
201318,136Suspension 52%
201216,208Suspension 55%
201115,013Suspension 56%
201016,871Suspension 57%
200915,648Suspension 59%
20083,639Suspension 55%
20072,884Suspension 57%
20062,091Suspension 56%
20051,744Suspension 53%
20041,465Suspension 52%
20031,093Suspension 58%
2002646Suspension 61%
2000146Suspension 53%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2001 Ford Kas registered in 2001. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score