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1998 Ford Escort 75 MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Escort 75 models manufactured in 1998, based on 224 real MOT test results.

29.0%
Pass Rate
71.0%
Fail Rate
224
Total Tests
51,186
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

This page shows all Escort 75 cars tested in 1998. Want to see how cars built in 1998 hold up over time?

View 1998 Ford Escort 75 vintage page โ†’ (29.6% current pass rate)

1998 Ford Escort 75 MOT Analysis

The 1998 Ford Escort 75 has an MOT pass rate of 29.0% based on 224 tests โ€” significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 51,186 miles on the odometer. With a 71.0% failure rate, the 1998 Escort 75 is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1998 Ford Escort 75 is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, responsible for 0.9% of failures. 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 range from ยฃ5โ€“50. Suspension is the second most common issue at 0.4%. Body, Structure and General Items follows at 0.4%.

Top failures specific to 1998 models only. The overall Escort 75 page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment0.9%2
2Suspension0.4%1
3Body, Structure And General Items0.4%1
4Brakes0.4%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 51,186 mi

For 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.

Lamps & Electrical0.17% per 10K miSuspension0.09% per 10K miBody & Structure0.09% per 10K miBrakes0.09% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Lamps & Electrical0.170.9%2
Suspension0.090.4%1
Body & Structure0.090.4%1
Brakes0.090.4%1

Mileage Statistics

51,186
Mean
46,801
Median
37,288
25th Percentile
78,292
75th Percentile
13.87% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate โ€” accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1998 Ford Escort 75 has an MOT pass rate of 29.0% based on 224 tests โ€” significantly below the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 51,186 miles on the odometer. With a 71.0% failure rate, the 1998 Escort 75 is rated as "Very Poor" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1998 Ford Escort 75, be prepared for above-average maintenance costs. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Walk around the car and check every light โ€” 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. At 51,186 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment โ€” 0.9% of failures

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 0.9% of MOT failures on 1998 Ford Escort 75 models. 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: ยฃ5โ€“50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light โ€” 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 โ€” 0.4% of failures

Suspension issues account for 0.4% of MOT failures on 1998 Ford Escort 75 models. 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: ยฃ200โ€“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.

Body, Structure and General Items โ€” 0.4% of failures

Body, Structure and General Items issues account for 0.4% of MOT failures on 1998 Ford Escort 75 models. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: ยฃ100โ€“500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005โ€“2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

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