1988 Ford Fiesta — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

82.0%

Latest Pass Rate

10,085

Total Tests (All Years)

54,313 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 1988 Ford Fiesta as it ages.

21 yrs47.0%

→ ↑0.8%

22 yrs47.8%

→ ↑3.2%

23 yrs51.0%

→ ↑1.1%

24 yrs52.1%

→ ↑3.7%

25 yrs55.8%

→ ↑3.3%

26 yrs59.1%

→ ↑3.3%

27 yrs62.4%

→ ↑2.1%

28 yrs64.5%

→ ↑0.4%

29 yrs64.9%

→ ↑5.2%

30 yrs70.1%

→ ↓0.1%

31 yrs70.0%

→ ↓1.3%

32 yrs68.7%

→ ↑5.9%

33 yrs74.6%

→ ↑2.6%

34 yrs77.2%

→ ↓0.3%

35 yrs76.9%

→ ↑5.1%

36 yrs82.0%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	47.0%	1,530
22 yrs	47.8%	1,169
23 yrs	51.0%	955
24 yrs	52.1%	828
25 yrs	55.8%	739
26 yrs	59.1%	626
27 yrs	62.4%	553
28 yrs	64.5%	507
29 yrs	64.9%	465
30 yrs	70.1%	321
31 yrs	70.0%	317
32 yrs	68.7%	268
33 yrs	74.6%	351
34 yrs	77.2%	334
35 yrs	76.9%	359
36 yrs	82.0%	763

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1988 Ford Fiesta pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	82%	763
2023 (35 yrs)	76.9%	359
2022 (34 yrs)	77.2%	334
2021 (33 yrs)	74.6%	351
2020 (32 yrs)	68.7%	268
2019 (31 yrs)	70%	317
2018 (30 yrs)	70.1%	321
2017 (29 yrs)	64.9%	465
2016 (28 yrs)	64.5%	507
2015 (27 yrs)	62.4%	553
2014 (26 yrs)	59.1%	626
2013 (25 yrs)	55.8%	739
2012 (24 yrs)	52.1%	828
2011 (23 yrs)	51%	955
2010 (22 yrs)	47.8%	1,169
2009 (21 yrs)	47%	1,530

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.0%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 1,530Avg Mileage 52,408Top Failure Suspension — 36.0%

2010High Fail Rate

47.8%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 1,169Avg Mileage 57,014Top Failure Suspension — 36.0%

2011High Fail Rate

51.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 955Avg Mileage 53,911Top Failure Suspension — 34.3%

2012High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 828Avg Mileage 53,828Top Failure Suspension — 33.7%

2013High Fail Rate

55.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 739Avg Mileage 56,874Top Failure Suspension — 94.7%

2014High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 626Avg Mileage 53,457Top Failure Suspension — 83.5%

2015High Fail Rate

62.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 553Avg Mileage 50,900Top Failure Suspension — 63.7%

2016High Fail Rate

64.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 507Avg Mileage 52,115Top Failure Suspension — 62.7%

2017High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 465Avg Mileage 51,244Top Failure Suspension — 60.2%

2018

70.1%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 321Avg Mileage 53,334Top Failure Suspension — 44.2%

2019

70.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 317Avg Mileage 55,350Top Failure Suspension — 44.2%

2020

68.7%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 268Avg Mileage 52,499Top Failure Suspension — 57.8%

2021

74.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 351Avg Mileage 52,511Top Failure Suspension — 27.4%

2022

77.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 334Avg Mileage 53,678Top Failure Suspension — 31.1%

2023

76.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 359Avg Mileage 53,986Top Failure Suspension — 38.2%

2024

82.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 763Avg Mileage 54,313Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 21.0%

MOT results for 1988 Ford Fiesta by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	47.0%	1,530	52,408	Suspension — 36.0%
2010	22	47.8%	1,169	57,014	Suspension — 36.0%
2011	23	51.0%	955	53,911	Suspension — 34.3%
2012	24	52.1%	828	53,828	Suspension — 33.7%
2013	25	55.8%	739	56,874	Suspension — 94.7%
2014	26	59.1%	626	53,457	Suspension — 83.5%
2015	27	62.4%	553	50,900	Suspension — 63.7%
2016	28	64.5%	507	52,115	Suspension — 62.7%
2017	29	64.9%	465	51,244	Suspension — 60.2%
2018	30	70.1%	321	53,334	Suspension — 44.2%
2019	31	70.0%	317	55,350	Suspension — 44.2%
2020	32	68.7%	268	52,499	Suspension — 57.8%
2021	33	74.6%	351	52,511	Suspension — 27.4%
2022	34	77.2%	334	53,678	Suspension — 31.1%
2023	35	76.9%	359	53,986	Suspension — 38.2%
2024	36	82.0%	763	54,313	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 21.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1988 Ford Fiesta, with age trends.

Suspension

48.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

30.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

26.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

21.3%

— Consistent

Body, Structure and General Items

16.9%

↓ 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
Suspension	36.0% (21 yrs)	21.0% (36 yrs)	-15.0%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	25.0% (21 yrs)	18.2% (36 yrs)	-6.8%	🟢 ↓

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 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 10,085 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.