Used car guide

2021 Ford Mondeo: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2021 Ford Mondeos, from 1,180 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,180MOT tests in 2025
85%pass first time (all 2021 cars: 87%)
11,000typical miles a year
26%had tyres flagged

What gets flagged at MOT

The share of 2021 Ford Mondeo MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    26% 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
    15% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • 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.

  • Seats and seatbelts
    1% of testsRough price £80–£250

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

  • Suspension
    1% 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.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
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%
20054,495Brakes 54%
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 2021 Ford Mondeos registered in 2021. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score