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Ford Escort reliability by build year

Coverage 1980-20004 named generationsHatchbackDIESEL / PETROL
At a glance

Ford Escort built before 2000: fails its MOT less often than average

Ford Escorts built before 2000 fail their MOT less often than similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Check a Ford Escort by number plate

Key figure

17% of MOT tests on Ford Escorts built before 2000 ended in a fail (retests included), against 25% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Ford Escorts built before 2000 involves the brakes.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Ford Escort's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake pipes and hoses

High priority

Look under the car for corrosion or chafing on the rigid brake pipes near the rear axle.

Suspension

Worth checking

Inspect the suspension carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Leaks

Worth checking

Inspect the leaks carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Fail rates have been steady over the last three years. Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Escort's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

M

Mk4 (1980-1986)

Excellent
DIESELPETROL

16.8% fail rate, built before 2000 (over 25 years old)

Fails less often than the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 25.2%)

From 10,088 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Ford Escort.

See every build year for the Ford Escort

By age

Ford Escort fail rate by age

This chart combines every Ford Escort ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
22 yearsbuilt around 2003
9324.7%
23 yearsbuilt around 2002
31627.5%
24 yearsbuilt around 2001
47731.9%
25+ yearsbuilt 2000 or earlier
10,08816.8%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 24 years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 25+ year old Ford Escorts

These issues come from 25+ year old Ford Escorts, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelPlenty of data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Oil leak, but not excessive

    9.7%
    Advisory: 1,010Fail: 25 (2% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake pipe corroded or covered in grease

    8.4%
    Advisory: 1,196Fail: 115 (9% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    7.2%
    Advisory: 860Fail: 178 (17% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Suspension mounting area corroded, but not seriously

    6.7%
    Advisory: 728Fail: 524 (42% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    5.6%
    Advisory: 794Fail: 99 (11% of the times it was found)

Based on 10,088 MOT tests on 25+ year old Ford Escorts, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 25+ year old Ford Escorts notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Suspension29%
  2. Brakes + Other23%
  3. Other + Suspension23%
  4. Body & structure + Brakes22%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 3,192 MOT tests on Ford Escort cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Ford Escort.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

12 recalls in all

All 12 Ford Escort recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 12 recalls

Top concerns

  • Loss of steering power assistance
  • Unexpected deployment of passenger air bag
  • Failure of braking system vacuum assistance

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Vauxhall Nova

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    15.2%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    6.8%
    Dangerous
    2.2%

    Fewer dangerous faults: 2.2%, against 3.8% for the Ford Escort.

    1,003 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  2. 2

    Renault Clio

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    30.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    93.9%

    No clear edge over the Ford Escort on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    2,039 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  3. 3

    Subaru Impreza

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    19.9%

    No clear edge over the Ford Escort on these figures.

    2 critical recall campaigns matching this model/build period.

    2,760 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

  4. 4

    Austin Mini

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    22.6%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    5.9%
    Dangerous
    4.5%

    Fewer fails still not passed 3 days later: 5.9%, against 9.6% for the Ford Escort.

    3,373 MOT tests on cars built before 2000

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built before 2000 (over 25 years old), the Ford Escort across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. This is based on 10,088 25+ year old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Ford Escort ever sold: 10,974 tests. The main figures are for cars built before 2000 (over 25 years old): 10,088 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.