Ford Sierra: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The Ford Sierra passes its MOT first time more often than the average UK car, by 10.9 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 2,320 individual Ford Sierra tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 87.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 12 in every 100 Ford Sierras 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 Sierra tested had covered 52,155 miles and was built around 1989.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. The Ford Sierra sits 10.9 points above the national average, ranked 1,041 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 Sierra 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 Sierras at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a Ford Sierra

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 3.1% of tests (8.88x 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, 1.5% of tests (5.48x the national rate for this defect)
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, 3.4% of tests (3.6x the national rate for this defect)
4. Audible warning inoperative, 0.7% of tests (2.44x the national rate for this defect)
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 0.9% of tests (2.08x 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., 0.7% of tests (1.32x the national rate for this defect)
7. A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 0.8% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 1.6% of tests
9. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 1.2% of tests
10. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.2% of tests

From 2,324 DVSA-tracked Ford Sierra tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.37% of these flagged Ford Sierra defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a Ford Sierra

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 Sierra before it actually fails on it.

1. A flexible brake hose excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched, 2.8% of tests (4.99x the national rate for this advisory)
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, 4.1% of tests (2.69x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
3. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 3.1% of tests (2.52x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, 2.8% of tests (2.16x the national rate for this advisory)
5. A wheel bearing with excessive play, 1.3% of tests (1.99x the national rate for this advisory)
6. Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users, 9.3% of tests (1.67x the national rate for this advisory)
7. A tyre seriously damaged, 6.6% of tests
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 6.3% of tests, also fails
9. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 6.2% of tests
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 5.1% of tests

From 2,324 DVSA-tracked Ford Sierra tests, 2024.

Ford Sierra pass rate by model year

Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each Ford Sierra year:

• 1990 Ford Sierra - 88.5% first-time pass, 312 tests
• 1991 Ford Sierra - 87.1% first-time pass, 263 tests
• 1992 Ford Sierra - 83.3% first-time pass, 299 tests

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

• MG Zs Excite Vti-Tech - 87.6%
• Vauxhall Corsa Griffin S/S - 87.6%
• Volkswagen Transporter T28 H-Line Tdi S-A - 87.6%
• Mercedes-Benz Cla 250 Amg Line Premium E A - 87.6%
• Land Rover Discovery Hse Sdv6 Auto - 87.6%
• Renault Zoe I Iconc Rapid Charge Ze 50 - 87.6%

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
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate