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

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. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, 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.

Most common MOT failures on a diesel Ford Escort

1. 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, 23.4% of tests (24.83x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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, 6.3% of tests (23.6x the national rate for this defect)
3. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 4.9% of tests (21.28x the national rate for this defect)
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 8.5% of tests (20.53x the national rate for this defect)
5. 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., 6% of tests (11.42x the national rate for this defect)
6. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.9% of tests (4.56x the national rate for this defect)
7. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.8% of tests (3.79x the national rate for this defect)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.8% of tests (3.65x the national rate for this defect)
9. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.1% of tests (2.39x the national rate for this defect)
10. Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 3.5% of tests (2.09x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,190 DVSA-tracked diesel Ford Escort tests, 2024, split out from the Ford Escort's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 3.62% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a diesel Ford Escort

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

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, 3.2% of tests (23.87x the national rate for this defect), also fails
2. 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, 20.7% of tests (13.62x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, 3.8% of tests (13.02x the national rate for this defect), also fails
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 16.1% of tests (12.9x the national rate for this defect), also fails
5. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 27.3% of tests (4.41x the national rate for this defect), also fails
6. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 6.3% of tests (3.15x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 3.4% of tests (2.64x the national rate for this defect)
8. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 13.9% of tests (2.51x the national rate for this defect)
9. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 3.9% of tests (1.46x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 17.1% of tests (1.28x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,190 DVSA-tracked diesel Ford Escort tests, 2024.

Other Ford Escort fuel types

• Petrol Ford Escort - 83.4%

All Ford Escort MOT data · Every model