Known APK problem

Ford Ka II: brakes

On the Ford Ka II the APK inspector finds brakes problems 2.2× as often as on cars of the same age: at 11–12 years 3.9%, against about 1.8% nationally.

Illustration Ford Ka II

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected Ford Ka IIs with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

AgeTypeKa II95%-CINationalDifferencen
9 – 10 yearsA2.7%2.1 – 3.5%1.8%1.5×2,140
9 – 10 yearsB2.8%2.1 – 3.5%1.6%1.7×2,140
9 – 10 yearsC2.6%2.0 – 3.3%2.9%0.9×2,140
11 – 12 yearsA3.8%3.2 – 4.6%2.9%1.3×3,028
11 – 12 yearsB3.9%3.2 – 4.6%1.8%2.2×3,028
11 – 12 yearsC2.8%2.3 – 3.5%2.8%1.0×3,028
13 – 15 yearsA4.8%4.6 – 5.1%4.0%1.2×25,884
13 – 15 yearsB3.5%3.3 – 3.7%1.9%1.8×25,884
13 – 15 yearsC3.0%2.8 – 3.2%3.0%1.0×25,884
16+ yearsA8.4%8.0 – 8.9%6.0%1.4×12,988
16+ yearsB3.9%3.6 – 4.2%2.2%1.8×12,988
16+ yearsC3.1%2.8 – 3.4%3.1%1.0×12,988

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 11–12 years

ModelBrakesVs. national
Ford Ka II3.9%2.2×
Peugeot 1073.8%1.3×
Suzuki Alto (2009)3.0%1.1×
Hyundai i10 I5.0%1.8×
Citroën C1 I3.9%1.4×
Citroën C1 II2.3%0.8×

Looking at a Ford Ka II? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Ford Ka IIs of the same age.

All weak spots of the Ford Ka II · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the Ford Ka II often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 11–12 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 3.9% of inspected Ford Ka IIs, against about 1.8% of all cars of the same age (2.2×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used Ford Ka II?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know