1985 Ford Fiesta — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1985 perform at MOT as they age

41 years

Current Age

83.1%

Latest Pass Rate

2,536

Total Tests (All Years)

45,263 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 1985 Ford Fiesta as it ages.

24 yrs52.5%

→ ↓1.8%

25 yrs50.7%

→ ↑2.5%

26 yrs53.2%

→ ↑7.5%

27 yrs60.7%

→ ↑2.2%

28 yrs62.9%

→ ↓8.0%

29 yrs54.9%

→ ↓1.6%

30 yrs53.3%

→ ↑7.0%

31 yrs60.3%

→ ↑9.1%

32 yrs69.4%

→ ↑4.5%

33 yrs73.9%

→ ↑0.5%

34 yrs74.4%

→ ↓7.3%

35 yrs67.1%

→ ↑7.1%

36 yrs74.2%

→ ↑2.5%

37 yrs76.7%

→ ↑3.7%

38 yrs80.4%

→ ↑2.7%

39 yrs83.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
24 yrs	52.5%	354
25 yrs	50.7%	286
26 yrs	53.2%	250
27 yrs	60.7%	206
28 yrs	62.9%	178
29 yrs	54.9%	173
30 yrs	53.3%	150
31 yrs	60.3%	126
32 yrs	69.4%	121
33 yrs	73.9%	88
34 yrs	74.4%	82
35 yrs	67.1%	70
36 yrs	74.2%	93
37 yrs	76.7%	90
38 yrs	80.4%	92
39 yrs	83.1%	177

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1985 Ford Fiesta pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (39 yrs)	83.1%	177
2023 (38 yrs)	80.4%	92
2022 (37 yrs)	76.7%	90
2021 (36 yrs)	74.2%	93
2020 (35 yrs)	67.1%	70
2019 (34 yrs)	74.4%	82
2018 (33 yrs)	73.9%	88
2017 (32 yrs)	69.4%	121
2016 (31 yrs)	60.3%	126
2015 (30 yrs)	53.3%	150
2014 (29 yrs)	54.9%	173
2013 (28 yrs)	62.9%	178
2012 (27 yrs)	60.7%	206
2011 (26 yrs)	53.2%	250
2010 (25 yrs)	50.7%	286
2009 (24 yrs)	52.5%	354

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 354Avg Mileage 52,230Top Failure Suspension — 31.4%

2010High Fail Rate

50.7%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 286Avg Mileage 52,390Top Failure Suspension — 35.7%

2011High Fail Rate

53.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 250Avg Mileage 49,043Top Failure Suspension — 35.2%

2012High Fail Rate

60.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 206Avg Mileage 47,788Top Failure Suspension — 25.2%

2013High Fail Rate

62.9%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 178Avg Mileage 51,577Top Failure Suspension — 69.1%

2014High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 173Avg Mileage 58,605Top Failure Suspension — 90.8%

2015High Fail Rate

53.3%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 150Avg Mileage 48,352Top Failure Suspension — 93.3%

2016High Fail Rate

60.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 126Avg Mileage 48,504Top Failure Suspension — 84.9%

2017

69.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 121Avg Mileage 48,833Top Failure Suspension — 55.4%

2018

73.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 88Avg Mileage 45,094Top Failure Suspension — 45.5%

2019

74.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 82Avg Mileage 44,932Top Failure Suspension — 42.7%

2020

67.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 70Avg Mileage 47,648Top Failure Brakes — 60.0%

2021

74.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 93Avg Mileage 44,881Top Failure Suspension — 37.6%

2022

76.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 90Avg Mileage 47,932Top Failure Suspension — 47.8%

2023

80.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 92Avg Mileage 46,404Top Failure Brakes — 34.8%

2024

83.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 177Avg Mileage 45,263Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 12.4%

MOT results for 1985 Ford Fiesta by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	24	52.5%	354	52,230	Suspension — 31.4%
2010	25	50.7%	286	52,390	Suspension — 35.7%
2011	26	53.2%	250	49,043	Suspension — 35.2%
2012	27	60.7%	206	47,788	Suspension — 25.2%
2013	28	62.9%	178	51,577	Suspension — 69.1%
2014	29	54.9%	173	58,605	Suspension — 90.8%
2015	30	53.3%	150	48,352	Suspension — 93.3%
2016	31	60.3%	126	48,504	Suspension — 84.9%
2017	32	69.4%	121	48,833	Suspension — 55.4%
2018	33	73.9%	88	45,094	Suspension — 45.5%
2019	34	74.4%	82	44,932	Suspension — 42.7%
2020	35	67.1%	70	47,648	Brakes — 60.0%
2021	36	74.2%	93	44,881	Suspension — 37.6%
2022	37	76.7%	90	47,932	Suspension — 47.8%
2023	38	80.4%	92	46,404	Brakes — 34.8%
2024	39	83.1%	177	45,263	Noise, emissions and leaks — 12.4%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1985 Ford Fiesta, with age trends.

Suspension

48.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

31.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

20.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

15.8%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	31.4% (24 yrs)	10.2% (39 yrs)	-21.2%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	22.9% (24 yrs)	12.4% (39 yrs)	-10.5%	🟢 ↓

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 1985 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,536 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.