Ford Escort Sapphir MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 41 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 68.3%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Ford Escort Sapphir MOT Reliability Overview
The Ford Escort Sapphir is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 41 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 31.7% and a failure rate of 68.3%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Ford Escort Sapphir earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Ford Escort Sapphir presents for MOT with approximately 63,269 miles on the clock.
The most common MOT failure for the Ford Escort Sapphir is Suspension, affecting 48.8% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Brakes at 43.9%. Tyres rounds out the top three at 41.5%. 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
* 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 | Suspension | 126.8% | 52 |
| 2 | Brakes | 97.6% | 40 |
| 3 | Tyres | 78.0% | 32 |
| 4 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 53.7% | 22 |
| 5 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 43.9% | 18 |
| 6 | Steering | 41.5% | 17 |
| 7 | Driver's View Of The Road | 26.8% | 11 |
| 8 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 24.4% | 10 |
| 9 | Body, Structure And General Items | 22.0% | 9 |
| 10 | Road Wheels | 4.9% | 2 |
| 11 | Items Not Tested | 2.4% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 63,269 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 20.05 | 126.8% | 52 |
| Brakes | 15.42 | 97.6% | 40 |
| Tyres | 12.34 | 78.0% | 32 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 8.48 | 53.7% | 22 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 6.94 | 43.9% | 18 |
| Steering | 6.55 | 41.5% | 17 |
| Visibility | 4.24 | 26.8% | 11 |
| Seat Belts | 3.86 | 24.4% | 10 |
| Body & Structure | 3.47 | 22.0% | 9 |
| Wheels | 0.77 | 4.9% | 2 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.39 | 2.4% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Ford Escort Sapphir has 63,269 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 Sapphir has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 10.80% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Ford Escort Sapphir MOT Data
The Ford Escort Sapphir is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 41 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 31.7% and a failure rate of 68.3%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Ford Escort Sapphir owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes 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 Sapphir is likely to perform.
Suspension — 48.8% of failures
Suspension issues account for 48.8% of MOT failures on the Ford Escort Sapphir. 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.
Brakes — 43.9% of failures
Brakes issues account for 43.9% of MOT failures on the Ford Escort Sapphir. 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).
Tyres — 41.5% of failures
Tyres issues account for 41.5% of MOT failures on the Ford Escort Sapphir. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Escort Sapphir?
Based on 41 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Ford Escort Sapphir has an overall pass rate of 31.7% (68.3% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Escort Sapphir?
The top 3 reasons a Ford Escort Sapphir fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (48.8%), 2. Brakes (43.9%), 3. Tyres (41.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Ford Escort Sapphir reliable?
With a 68.3% MOT failure rate, the Escort Sapphir is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Ford Escort Sapphir?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (48.8%); Brakes (43.9%); Tyres (41.5%). 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.