1979 Ford Fiesta — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

81.8%

Latest Pass Rate

632

Total Tests (All Years)

42,980 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1979 Ford Fiesta as it ages.

30 yrs59.3%

→ ↓5.1%

31 yrs54.2%

→ ↑8.5%

32 yrs62.7%

→ ↓4.5%

33 yrs58.2%

→ ↓4.2%

34 yrs54.0%

→ ↑12.1%

35 yrs66.1%

→ ↑0.6%

36 yrs66.7%

→ ↑7.4%

37 yrs74.1%

→ ↑5.5%

38 yrs79.6%

→ ↓10.4%

39 yrs69.2%

→ ↑12.6%

40 yrs81.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	59.3%	81
31 yrs	54.2%	72
32 yrs	62.7%	67
33 yrs	58.2%	67
34 yrs	54.0%	63
35 yrs	66.1%	56
36 yrs	66.7%	51
37 yrs	74.1%	54
38 yrs	79.6%	49
39 yrs	69.2%	39
40 yrs	81.8%	33

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 Ford Fiesta pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (40 yrs)	81.8%	33
2018 (39 yrs)	69.2%	39
2017 (38 yrs)	79.6%	49
2016 (37 yrs)	74.1%	54
2015 (36 yrs)	66.7%	51
2014 (35 yrs)	66.1%	56
2013 (34 yrs)	54%	63
2012 (33 yrs)	58.2%	67
2011 (32 yrs)	62.7%	67
2010 (31 yrs)	54.2%	72
2009 (30 yrs)	59.3%	81

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 81Avg Mileage 56,167Top Failure Brakes — 27.2%

2010High Fail Rate

54.2%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 72Avg Mileage 52,101Top Failure Suspension — 26.4%

2011High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 67Avg Mileage 50,827Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.4%

2012High Fail Rate

58.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 67Avg Mileage 58,951Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.9%

2013High Fail Rate

54.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 63Avg Mileage 51,860Top Failure Suspension — 87.3%

2014

66.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 56Avg Mileage 52,348Top Failure Brakes — 41.1%

2015

66.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 51Avg Mileage 61,703Top Failure Suspension — 45.1%

2016

74.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 54Avg Mileage 55,388Top Failure Suspension — 37.0%

2017

79.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 49Avg Mileage 49,446Top Failure Suspension — 40.8%

2018

69.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 39Avg Mileage 51,813Top Failure Brakes — 74.4%

2019

81.8%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 33Avg Mileage 42,980Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 27.3%

MOT results for 1979 Ford Fiesta by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	59.3%	81	56,167	Brakes — 27.2%
2010	31	54.2%	72	52,101	Suspension — 26.4%
2011	32	62.7%	67	50,827	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.4%
2012	33	58.2%	67	58,951	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.9%
2013	34	54.0%	63	51,860	Suspension — 87.3%
2014	35	66.1%	56	52,348	Brakes — 41.1%
2015	36	66.7%	51	61,703	Suspension — 45.1%
2016	37	74.1%	54	55,388	Suspension — 37.0%
2017	38	79.6%	49	49,446	Suspension — 40.8%
2018	39	69.2%	39	51,813	Brakes — 74.4%
2019	40	81.8%	33	42,980	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 27.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 Ford Fiesta, with age trends.

Brakes

36.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

36.1%

— Consistent

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

27.3%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

26.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

23.9%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	27.2% (30 yrs)	12.1% (40 yrs)	-15.1%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	23.5% (30 yrs)	21.2% (40 yrs)	-2.3%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Ford Fiesta page →

About This Data

This page shows how Ford Fiesta cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 632 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

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