Ford Escort 55 Diesel MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 64 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 60.9%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Ford Escort 55 Diesel MOT Reliability Overview
The Ford Escort 55 Diesel is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 64 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 39.1% and a failure rate of 60.9%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Ford Escort 55 Diesel earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Ford Escort 55 Diesel presents for MOT with approximately 47,844 miles on the clock. The 1990 manufacture year performs best with a 48.6% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Ford Escort 55 Diesel is Brakes, affecting 43.8% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 42.2%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 29.7%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 98.4% | 63 |
| 2 | Suspension | 70.3% | 45 |
| 3 | Brakes | 65.6% | 42 |
| 4 | Body, Structure And General Items | 31.3% | 20 |
| 5 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 21.9% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 20.3% | 13 |
| 7 | Tyres | 20.3% | 13 |
| 8 | Driver's View Of The Road | 18.8% | 12 |
| 9 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 15.6% | 10 |
| 10 | Registration Plates And Vin | 1.6% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 47,844 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 20.57 | 98.4% | 63 |
| Suspension | 14.70 | 70.3% | 45 |
| Brakes | 13.72 | 65.6% | 42 |
| Body & Structure | 6.53 | 31.3% | 20 |
| Seat Belts | 4.57 | 21.9% | 14 |
| Steering | 4.25 | 20.3% | 13 |
| Tyres | 4.25 | 20.3% | 13 |
| Visibility | 3.92 | 18.8% | 12 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 3.27 | 15.6% | 10 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.33 | 1.6% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Ford Escort 55 Diesel has 47,844 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Ford Escort 55 Diesel has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 12.73% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Ford Escort 55 Diesel MOT Data
The Ford Escort 55 Diesel is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 64 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 39.1% and a failure rate of 60.9%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Ford Escort 55 Diesel owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Escort 55 Diesel is likely to perform.
Brakes — 43.8% of failures
Brakes issues account for 43.8% of MOT failures on the Ford Escort 55 Diesel. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 42.2% of MOT failures on the Ford Escort 55 Diesel. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Suspension — 29.7% of failures
Suspension issues account for 29.7% of MOT failures on the Ford Escort 55 Diesel. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Escort 55 Diesel?
Based on 64 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Ford Escort 55 Diesel has an overall pass rate of 39.1% (60.9% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Escort 55 Diesel?
The top 3 reasons a Ford Escort 55 Diesel fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (43.8%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (42.2%), 3. Suspension (29.7%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Ford Escort 55 Diesel reliable?
With a 60.9% MOT failure rate, the Escort 55 Diesel is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Ford Escort 55 Diesel?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (43.8%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (42.2%); Suspension (29.7%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.