Ford Escort: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Escort passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 3.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 10,207 individual Ford Escort tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

First-time pass rate80.6%
UK national average76.7%
Difference+3.9 points
Tests analysed10,207
Average mileage at test55,895 miles
Average year of manufacture1990
Reliability rank1,416 of 2,005 models

What this means if you are buying one

A 80.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 19 in every 100 Ford Escorts 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 Escort tested had covered 55,895 miles and was built around 1990.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Escort sits 3.9 points above the national average, ranked 1,416 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 Escort 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 recorded closing bids for damaged Ford Escorts at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Escort

  1. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 2.4% of tests (8.88x the national rate for this defect)
  2. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.1% of tests (8.67x the national rate for this defect)
  3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.1% of tests (7.42x the national rate for this defect)
  4. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 1.7% of tests (7.4x the national rate for this defect)
  5. 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, 6.8% of tests (7.23x the national rate for this defect)
  6. 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., 2.9% of tests (5.5x the national rate for this defect)
  7. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.4% of tests (1.58x the national rate for this defect)
  8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.6% of tests (1.54x the national rate for this defect)
  9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 1.5% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this defect)
  10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 2.4% of tests

From 10,206 DVSA-tracked Ford Escort tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.14% of these flagged Ford Escort defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ford Escort

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a Ford Escort before it actually fails on it.

  1. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 4.3% of tests (6.67x the national rate for this advisory)
  2. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 6.4% of tests (5.13x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  3. 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, 6.9% of tests (4.58x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  4. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2% of tests (3.57x the national rate for this advisory)
  5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 13.3% of tests (2.15x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 9.1% of tests (1.63x the national rate for this advisory)
  7. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2.7% of tests (1.37x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
  8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3.8% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this advisory)
  9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 9.1% of tests, also fails
  10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 8.3% of tests

From 10,206 DVSA-tracked Ford Escort tests, 2024.

Ford Escort pass rate by model year

From its 1990 to its 2001 model year, the Ford Escort's first-time pass rate has fallen 15.9 points, from 83.7% to 67.8%, an unusual pattern where even its newest years fail more than its oldest. First-time pass rate for each Ford Escort year:

Ford Escort by fuel type

The Ford Escort's two most-tested fuel types split by 16.6 points: petrol passes first time 83.4% of the time (8,924 tests) against 66.8% for diesel (1,164 tests).

Other Ford models

Models with a similar pass rate

If this car is a salvage or write-off

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Ford Escort MOT pass rate badge: 80.6%

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Ford Escort most common MOT failure: The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired (2.4% of tests)

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate