Ford Merlin vs Ford Mondeo: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Ford Merlin
90%
MOT pass rate · 10 vehicles
Ford Mondeo
70%
MOT pass rate · 1,212,823 vehicles
Verdict: On MOT pass rate the Ford Merlin (90%) and Ford Mondeo (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Head to head
| Measure | Ford Merlin | Ford Mondeo |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 90% ✓ | 70% |
| MOT failure rate | 10% ✓ | 30% |
| Faults & advisories per test | 0.4 ✓ | 2.2 |
| Dangerous-fault share | 0% ✓ | 1% |
| Average mileage | 15,576 mi | 130,467 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 10 | 1,212,823 |
Most common faults
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
Ford Mondeo
- 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)
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate the Ford Merlin (90%) and Ford Mondeo (70%) are very close — weigh the individual measures below, and remember condition depends on age, mileage and upkeep.
Full Ford Merlin report Full Ford Mondeo 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.