Diesel Ford Escort: MOT pass rate
66.8% of diesel Ford Escorts pass the MOT first time, measured across 1,164 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 89,007.
Diesel against the other Ford Escort versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 83.4% | 8,924 |
| Diesel | 66.8% | 1,164 |
| All Ford Escort | 81.5% | 10,094 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the Ford Escort specifically, petrol is the strongest at 83.4%, and this diesel version sits 14.7 points below the 81.5% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The diesel Ford Escort fails more often than the model average, so budget for the items that catch this fuel type and treat a fresh MOT as worth paying for. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Ford Escort had covered 89,007 miles at test, against 52,239 for the petrol. That is above average, the point where suspension bushes, drop links and exhaust corrosion start showing up as advisories before they become failures.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Ford Escort page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Ford Escort fuel types
- Petrol Ford Escort - 83.4%