Ford Galaxy Reliability: MOT Pass Rate by Year & Engine

Verdict

The Ford Galaxy passes its MOT first time on 61.2% of tests, 2.5 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (63.7%). That puts it ahead of 38% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2016 Galaxy does best (beats 71% of cars) and the 2014 worst (beats 11%).

Of its engines, the 1.8 Diesel does best (beats 51%) and the 1.9 Diesel worst (beats 35%).

Better than average on visibility.

Watch these weak spots

Body & structure1.6×as often as a typical car

Seat belts & airbags1.4×as often as a typical car

Sidelights1.7×as often as a typical car

Brake lights1.6×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

Ford GalaxyTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

Beats 21%

Beats 28%

Beats 28%

Beats 32%

Beats 34%

Beats 33%

Beats 35%

Beats 41%

Beats 53%

Beats 55%

Beats 52%

Beats 43%

Beats 37%

Beats 32%

Beats 24%

Beats 11%

Beats 12%

Beats 71%

Beats 65%

Beats 53%

Beats 20%

Beats 9%

Beats 2%

Beats 2%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

Engine	Years	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	2006–2022	421,883	65.3%	Beats 40%	D
1.9 Diesel	2000–2006	76,606	46.2%	Beats 35%	D
1.8 Diesel	2006–2010	32,015	55.1%	Beats 51%	C
2.3 Petrol	1999–2005	19,818	44.5%	Beats 26%	D
1.6 Diesel	2011–2014	18,347	60.8%	Beats 20%	D
2.0 Petrol	2006–2011	11,616	56.2%	Beats 38%	D
2.2 Diesel	2008–2013	9,410	60.0%	Beats 49%	C
1.6 Petrol	2011–2012	5,609	62.0%	Beats 31%	D
2.5 Hybrid	2022–2022	1,109	83.8%	Beats 4%	E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical

Lights: 20.4% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 16.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics

20.4% vs 16.8%

Suspension

12.0% vs 12.8%

Brakes

9.1% vs 9.7%

Tyres

8.7% vs 7.8%

Body & structure

7.6% vs 4.9%

Visibility

4.6% vs 5.8%

Emissions & leaks

3.7% vs 4.5%

Steering

3.4% vs 2.8%

Seat belts & airbags

2.3% vs 1.6%

Wheels

0.6% vs 0.5%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Sidelights 1.7× typical
Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
Exhaust system 1.7× typical
Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look for heavy corrosion underneath.
Suspension arm bushes 1.5× typical
Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
Tyre damage & cracking
Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
Headlight aim
Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
Tyre tread depth
Check every tyre, including the inner edge, has at least 3 mm of tread. Uneven wear can point to alignment or suspension problems.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

Ford GalaxyTypical car

Most common MOT failures

Item	This car	Typical	vs typical
Sidelights	7.6%	4.4%	1.7×
Brake lights	5.0%	3.1%	1.6×
Tyre damage & cracking	4.6%	3.8%	1.2×
Headlight aim	3.8%	4.4%	0.9×
Tyre tread depth	3.6%	3.5%	1.0×
Drive shaft (CV) joints	3.5%	1.9%	1.8×
Brake pads	3.2%	2.5%	1.3×
Number plate lights	2.8%	2.3%	1.2×
Headlight bulbs & units	2.7%	3.0%	0.9×
Suspension arm bushes	2.5%	1.7%	1.5×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defect	per 1,000
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	61.1
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn	46.0
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	45.1
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	37.6
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	36.6
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements	36.3
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm	30.1
A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc	29.5

Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2022 Ford Galaxy2 engines82.4% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.5 Hybrid	1,109	83.8%	Beats 4%	E
2.0 Diesel	1,098	81.0%	Beats 1%	E

2021 Ford Galaxy1 engine75.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	3,751	75.9%	Beats 2%	E

2020 Ford Galaxy1 engine80.7% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	6,309	80.7%	Beats 9%	E

2019 Ford Galaxy1 engine78.5% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	12,296	78.5%	Beats 20%	D

2018 Ford Galaxy1 engine79.7% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	20,810	79.7%	Beats 53%	C

2017 Ford Galaxy1 engine80.9% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	35,140	80.9%	Beats 65%	B

2016 Ford Galaxy1 engine80.2% passB

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	38,095	80.2%	Beats 71%	B

2015 Ford Galaxy1 engine66.6% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	25,578	66.6%	Beats 12%	E

2014 Ford Galaxy2 engines62.9% passE

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	39,560	62.8%	Beats 11%	E
1.6 Diesel	3,303	64.2%	Beats 10%	E

2013 Ford Galaxy3 engines62.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	34,269	62.4%	Beats 24%	D
1.6 Diesel	4,960	62.1%	Beats 18%	E
2.2 Diesel	1,026	63.7%	Beats 27%	D

2012 Ford Galaxy4 engines60.9% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	34,323	61.3%	Beats 35%	D
1.6 Diesel	8,782	59.1%	Beats 24%	D
1.6 Petrol	3,110	63.0%	Beats 31%	D
2.2 Diesel	2,076	59.5%	Beats 25%	D

2011 Ford Galaxy5 engines59.4% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	39,516	59.2%	Beats 38%	D
1.6 Petrol	2,499	60.7%	Beats 32%	D
2.0 Petrol	2,239	58.9%	Beats 29%	D
2.2 Diesel	1,516	60.7%	Beats 42%	C
1.6 Diesel	1,302	59.1%	Beats 33%	D

2010 Ford Galaxy3 engines57.5% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	36,858	57.6%	Beats 44%	C
2.0 Petrol	4,857	56.7%	Beats 34%	D
1.8 Diesel	1,059	58.4%	Beats 48%	C

2009 Ford Galaxy3 engines57.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	31,862	56.8%	Beats 50%	C
1.8 Diesel	4,821	59.3%	Beats 58%	C
2.2 Diesel	3,168	59.6%	Beats 62%	B

2008 Ford Galaxy4 engines56.3% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	27,028	56.2%	Beats 55%	C
1.8 Diesel	8,874	56.8%	Beats 56%	C
2.2 Diesel	1,624	58.2%	Beats 62%	B
2.0 Petrol	1,328	53.5%	Beats 39%	D

2007 Ford Galaxy3 engines54.6% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	24,676	55.3%	Beats 55%	C
1.8 Diesel	13,348	53.7%	Beats 49%	C
2.0 Petrol	2,117	53.4%	Beats 44%	C

2006 Ford Galaxy4 engines50.2% passC

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.0 Diesel	10,714	50.8%	Beats 43%	C
1.9 Diesel	9,214	48.6%	Beats 36%	D
1.8 Diesel	3,913	50.2%	Beats 40%	C
2.0 Petrol	1,075	57.4%	Beats 61%	B

2005 Ford Galaxy2 engines47.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	23,372	47.0%	Beats 34%	D
2.3 Petrol	2,795	50.0%	Beats 39%	D

2004 Ford Galaxy2 engines45.3% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	16,530	45.6%	Beats 35%	D
2.3 Petrol	2,820	43.5%	Beats 23%	D

2003 Ford Galaxy2 engines45.0% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	15,784	44.8%	Beats 34%	D
2.3 Petrol	3,502	46.3%	Beats 33%	D

2002 Ford Galaxy2 engines44.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	7,392	45.1%	Beats 36%	D
2.3 Petrol	3,870	42.2%	Beats 23%	D

2001 Ford Galaxy2 engines43.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.3 Petrol	4,443	42.2%	Beats 22%	D
1.9 Diesel	2,820	46.1%	Beats 39%	D

2000 Ford Galaxy2 engines44.7% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
1.9 Diesel	1,494	46.6%	Beats 37%	D
2.3 Petrol	1,159	42.3%	Beats 18%	E

1999 Ford Galaxy1 engine46.1% passD

Engine	Tests	Pass rate	Rank	Grade
2.3 Petrol	1,229	46.1%	Beats 21%	D

FAQ

What is the Ford Galaxy MOT pass rate?

61.2% of MOT tests on the Ford Galaxy were passed first time, based on 596,413 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 1999–2022. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 63.7% of the time.

Is the Ford Galaxy reliable?

On MOT results it rates D (below average): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 38% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Ford Galaxy year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2016 Galaxy does best for its age and mileage: it beats 71% of cars on UK roads. The 2014 does worst: it beats 11%.

Which Ford Galaxy engine is best?

Across all years, the 1.8 Diesel does best: it beats 51% of cars on UK roads. The 1.9 Diesel does worst: it beats 35%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Ford Galaxy?

The most common failure items are sidelights, brake lights, tyre damage & cracking. Compared with similar cars, sidelights comes up 1.7× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.

Ford Galaxy reliability

Verdict

Watch these weak spots

MOT pass rate by age

Best and worst years

Engines

Where it fails

Every MOT area

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

Pass rate by mileage

Most common MOT failures

Specific defects found

Every year and engine

FAQ