Used car guide

2005 Ford Mondeo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 Ford Mondeos, from 4,495 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

4,495MOT tests in 2025
55%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
5,900typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 Ford Mondeos than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.1× usual
    Ford Mondeo
    31% All 2005 cars
    14.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.8%, against 2.4% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Sub-frame1.9× usual
    Ford Mondeo
    12.7% All 2005 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.3% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Ball joint dust cover2.2× usual
    Ford Mondeo
    10.4% All 2005 cars
    4.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.1%, against 1.8% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

  • Sub-frame bushes9.7× usual
    Ford Mondeo
    5.8% All 2005 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.1%, against 0.1% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Flexible brake hoses1.8× usual
    Ford Mondeo
    10.4% All 2005 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.2% of all 2005 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.

Better than most

Suspension arm bushes and joints: 4% here, against 10.7% of all 2005 cars. Number plate lights: 2.4% here, against 8.2% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 Ford Mondeo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    54% 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.

  • Suspension
    50% 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
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    35% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    20% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    16% 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.

Looking at a Ford Mondeo?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20211,180Tyres 26%
20202,240Tyres 29%
20194,379Tyres 28%
20186,983Tyres 29%
201710,841Tyres 31%
201616,015Tyres 32%
201517,086Tyres 33%
201411,030Suspension 36%
201311,904Suspension 44%
201214,654Suspension 49%
201111,953Suspension 49%
201013,267Suspension 55%
200912,469Suspension 57%
200811,111Suspension 59%
20078,468Suspension 56%
20065,464Brakes 51%
20042,864Brakes 52%
20031,669Brakes 52%
20021,296Brakes 51%
20011,137Brakes 51%
2000566Suspension 48%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2005 Ford Mondeos registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score