Used car guide

2017 Ford Freedom: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Ford Freedom first registered in 2017: we looked at the 529 MOTs these cars had during 2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

529MOTs of 2017 cars, done in 2025
77%pass first time (all 2017 cars: 78%)
6,800typical miles a year
4.5×the usual rate for exhaust system

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2017 Ford Freedom?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2017 Ford Freedom than on all cars registered in 2017.

  • Exhaust system4.5× usual
    Ford Freedom
    6.8% All 2017 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.2%, against 0.4% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Seat belts8.1× usual
    Ford Freedom
    5.7% All 2017 cars
    0.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.2% of all 2017 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

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

Better than most

Brake discs: 3.8% here, against 11.5% of all 2017 cars.

Common 2017 Ford Freedom MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2017 Ford Freedom MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Tyres
    27% 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
    17% 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
    13% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    8% 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.

  • 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.

  • Suspension
    7% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2017 Ford Freedom

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust system? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the 2017 Ford Freedom as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the seat belts? (Flagged at MOT 8.1× as often on the 2017 Ford Freedom as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Freedom?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Ford Freedom compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2021–Too few tests
2020150Tyres 25%
2019–Too few tests
2018265Tyres 25%
2016344Tyres 26%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, counting the MOTs of Ford Freedom cars first registered in 2017. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score