Ford Fiesta vs Ford Merlin: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Ford Fiesta
73%
MOT pass rate · 2,835,744 vehicles
Ford Merlin
90%
MOT pass rate · 10 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Ford Fiesta (73%) and Ford Merlin (90%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Ford Fiesta | Ford Merlin |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 73% | 90% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 27% | 10% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 2.1 | 0.4 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 2% | 0% ✓ |
| Average mileage | 84,529 mi | 15,576 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 2,835,744 | 10 |
Most common faults
Ford Fiesta
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Ford Merlin
- Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)
- Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)
- Nearside Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)
- Front Tie bar/rod has slight play in a pin/bush both leading tie bar bushes / fixings have slight movement (2.4.G.2)
- Offside Play in steering rack inner joint(s)
- Spare tyre defective tyre is flat
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Ford Fiesta (73%) and Ford Merlin (90%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Ford Fiesta report Full Ford Merlin report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.