Ford Capri: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The Ford Capri passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 7.4 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,182 individual Ford Capri tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 84.1% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | +7.4 points |
| Tests analysed | 2,182 |
| Average mileage at test | 51,378 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 1984 |
| Reliability rank | 1,296 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 84.1% first-time pass rate means roughly 16 in every 100 Ford Capris presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is better than average, so a well-kept example is a reasonably safe used buy. The average Ford Capri tested had covered 51,378 miles and was built around 1984.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a Ford Capri bought as a repairable salvage, the mechanical side is less likely to spring surprises, so your repair estimate should hold up reasonably well.
Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.
Looking at a specific Ford Capri rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged Ford Capris actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a Ford Capri
- Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.9% of tests (9.87x the national rate for this defect)
- Audible warning inoperative, 1.1% of tests (4.98x the national rate for this defect)
- Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle., 1.6% of tests (4.03x the national rate for this defect)
- A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED, 2.9% of tests (3.24x the national rate for this defect)
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 1.2% of tests (3.21x the national rate for this defect)
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.5% of tests (2.97x the national rate for this defect)
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.2% of tests (2.93x the national rate for this defect)
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1% of tests (2.85x the national rate for this defect)
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.3% of tests (2.7x the national rate for this defect)
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.1% of tests (1.69x the national rate for this defect)
From 5,307 DVSA-tracked Ford Capri tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.32% of these flagged Ford Capri defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
Other Ford models
- Ford Fiesta - 71.7%
- Ford Focus - 74.4%
- Ford Transit - 67.6%
- Ford Kuga - 82.4%
- Ford Mondeo - 72.2%
- Ford Ka - 72.2%
- Ford Transit Connect - 72%
- Ford Ranger - 76.9%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Ford Transit Custom 280 Trend Eblue - 84.2%
- Vauxhall Combo Life Energy Turbo D S/S - 84.2%
- Vauxhall Corsa Sri Vx-Line Nav Black - 84.1%
- Renault Kangoo Business Ll21 I Ze 33 - 84.1%
- Land Rover Range Rover Evoque - 84%
- Hyundai Tucson - 84%
If this car is a salvage or write-off
- What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
- What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
- Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
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