Ford KA Car CheckFull history check, MOT history and common problems

Free Ford KA vehicle check by reg: MOT history, mileage and tax. Buying one? The full car history check shows outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, stolen markers, keepers and plate changes.

  • 77% MOT pass rate
  • 1,479 KAs checked
  • 16.7% of Fords had outstanding finance

Ford KA reg check

Example: AB12 CDE (Free instant lookup)

Free MOT, mileage and tax check by reg or VIN. Full car history check from £3.99.

Full Ford KA history check from £3.99

The MOT record is free, and it only shows the car's condition on test day. What a seller may not mention is in the full Ford KA car check:

Of the 510 Ford vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 16.7% had outstanding finance recorded, 12.0% an insurance write-off record and 26.3% a number plate change.

  • Outstanding finance: lender and agreement
  • Insurance write-off: Cat S, N, C or D
  • Police stolen marker
  • High risk register
  • Previous keepers and last change
  • Plate and colour changes
  • Scrapped, imported or exported
  • Mileage anomaly check
Check a KA by reg → See a sample full report Prices and bundles

£3.99 a report in the 5-report bundle, £11.99 for a single report; unused reports never expire. Shown on screen straight away and sent by email. No subscription. Start with the free check: you only pay for the full report.

Free Ford KA MOT History and Mileage Data

What the MOT records of 1,475 Ford KA vehicles show. The full check above covers what the MOT doesn't.

  • 77%of MOT tests passedUK average 77%
  • 5,100typical miles a year
  • 6.4%have a mileage anomalyan MOT reading lower than an earlier one
  • 19,644MOT tests analysed
  • 2009–2014built (middle half)
  • 98%petrol; 2% diesel

Ford KA common problems: most common MOT failures and advisories

The defects MOT testers record most often on the Ford KA, as a share of all its MOT tests (the same defect on any wheel or side counts once): the KA's known weak points. Check these on the car you're viewing, or on your own before its next MOT.

Top 17 Ford KA MOT failures

Reasons the car failed its MOT.

  1. Stop lamp not working2.3%
  2. Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively2.2%
  3. Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.1%
  4. Brake pad less than 1.5 mm thick1.5%
  5. Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid1.5%
  6. Position lamp not working1.5%
  7. Parking brake efficiency below requirements1.4%
  8. Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn1.4%
  9. Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak1.3%
  10. Shock absorbers has an excessively worn bush1.1%
Show all 17
  1. Headlamp aim too low1.0%
  2. Headlamp not working on dipped beam0.7%
  3. Tyre has ply or cords exposed0.7%
  4. Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn0.6%
  5. Parking brake inoperative on one side0.6%
  6. Headlamp aim too high0.6%
  7. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.6%

Top 20 Ford KA MOT advisories

Wear the tester noted: not a failure yet, but money to budget for.

  1. Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge7.7%
  2. Tyre worn close to the legal limit4.4%
  3. Brake pad wearing thin4.3%
  4. Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing3.6%
  5. Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened3.4%
  6. Coil spring corroded3.4%
  7. Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases3.3%
  8. Oil leak, but not excessive2.8%
  9. Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement2.5%
  10. Shock absorbers has light misting of oil2.4%
Show all 20
  1. Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources1.6%
  2. Suspension arm ball joint has slight play1.6%
  3. Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread1.6%
  4. Shock absorbers light misting of oil or has limited damping effect1.4%
  5. Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush1.3%
  6. Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1.3%
  7. Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement1.2%
  8. Nail in tyre1.1%
  9. Road wheel slightly distorted1.0%
  10. Corroded1.0%
  • Suspension: 37% of failed tests
  • Lights and indicators: 35% of failed tests
  • Brakes: 24% of failed tests
  • Tyres: 20% of failed tests
  • Windscreen and wipers: 19% of failed tests
  • Tyres advisory: 26% of tests
  • Suspension advisory: 24% of tests
  • Corrosion advisory: 19% of tests

Based on the DVSA MOT histories of all 1,475 Ford KA vehicles with an MOT checked on CarCheckUp since April 2023 (19,644 tests, retests included). Updated 2 October 2026. Every MOT test and advisory for one car is in the free MOT history check, and our free mileage check flags a lower reading. Market-wide figures: UK Used Car Risk Report. How we calculate these figures. MOT and DVLA data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ford KA versions

Every Ford KA version checked on CarCheckUp counts on this page, grouped by the word after "KA" in the DVLA record. Pass rates where at least 300 vehicles were checked.

VersionVehiclesMOT pass rateTop failure area
KA (no version recorded) 1,473 77% Suspension

Key history checks before buying a used Ford KA

All of these are in every full report, with 150+ more data points.

Outstanding finance

A Ford on hire purchase, PCP or a logbook loan may still belong to the lender. Buying it can lead to a dispute over who owns it. Outstanding finance check

Insurance write-off (Cat S, N, C, D)

Shows if an insurer declared the car a total loss. Cat S and N cars can return to the road, but the record lowers the value and can affect insurance. Write-off check

Police stolen marker

Checks the Police National Computer. A stolen car can be taken back, leaving you without the car or your money. Stolen car check

High risk register

Shows if a finance company, insurer or the police has registered an interest in the KA. Find out why before you buy.

Mileage anomaly check & MOT history

Free: every MOT mileage reading compared for drops, with advisories and failures. Free mileage check

Previous keepers & plate changes

How many keepers the car has had and when, plus number plate changes that can separate a car from its history. Previous owners check

More free and full vehicle checks for a Ford KA

See a sample full report · Prices

Full Ford KA car check from £3.99 a report

Finance, write-off, stolen, keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points on the Ford KA you're looking at. The MOT history and mileage come free.

Check a KA by reg → See a sample report

Ford KA MOT questions

How do I check a used Ford KA for outstanding finance or a write-off?

Run a full car history check on its registration. Of the 510 Ford KA vehicles checked with a full CarCheckUp report, 16.7% had outstanding finance recorded and 12.0% an insurance write-off record. The report also shows stolen markers, keepers, plate and colour changes.

Is a Ford KA car check free?

The MOT history, mileage anomaly check, tax and DVLA details of any Ford KA are free. The full car history check (finance, write-off, stolen, keepers and 150+ data points) is paid, from £3.99 a report.

What is the most common MOT failure on the Ford KA?

Stop lamp not working: found at 2.3% of the Ford KA MOT tests we analysed. By area, suspension items appear in 37% of failed tests.

What is the Ford KA MOT pass rate?

77% of 19,644 MOT tests on 1,475 Ford KA vehicles checked on CarCheckUp were passed (retests included). The UK average across all vehicles we checked is 77%.

What are the common problems with the Ford KA?

Going by its MOT records, the Ford KA's most common failures are stop lamp not working (2.3% of tests); windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (2.2% of tests); tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (2.1% of tests). The full list of the top 20 MOT failures and advisories is on this page.

What is the most common MOT advisory on the Ford KA?

Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge: noted at 7.7% of tests. An advisory is not a failure, but it is wear to budget for.

How many miles a year is a Ford KA typically driven?

About 5,100 miles a year (the median, from MOT mileage readings). 6.4% have a mileage anomaly: an MOT reading lower than an earlier one.

More Ford car checks and guides

Guides for buying a used Ford KA