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1988 Ford Orion MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Orion models manufactured in 1988, based on 1,297 real MOT test results.

66.2%
Pass Rate
33.8%
Fail Rate
1,297
Total Tests
56,789
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

This page shows all Orion cars tested in 1988. Want to see how cars built in 1988 hold up over time?

View 1988 Ford Orion vintage page โ†’ (91.7% current pass rate)

1988 Ford Orion MOT Analysis

The 1988 Ford Orion has an MOT pass rate of 66.2% based on 1,297 tests โ€” slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 56,789 miles on the odometer. With a 33.8% failure rate, the 1988 Orion is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1988 Ford Orion is Brakes, responsible for 0.9% of failures. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components โ€” any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs range from ยฃ150โ€“400. Suspension is the second most common issue at 0.6%. Noise, emissions and leaks follows at 0.3%.

Top failures specific to 1988 models only. The overall Orion 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
1Brakes0.9%12
2Suspension0.6%8
3Noise, Emissions And Leaks0.3%4
4Non-component Advisories0.2%2
5Tyres0.2%2

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 56,789 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.

Brakes0.16% per 10K miSuspension0.11% per 10K miNoise, emissions and leaks0.05% per 10K miNon-component advisories0.03% per 10K miTyres0.03% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Brakes0.160.9%12
Suspension0.110.6%8
Noise, emissions and leaks0.050.3%4
Non-component advisories0.030.2%2
Tyres0.030.2%2

Mileage Statistics

56,789
Mean
55,560
Median
30,489
25th Percentile
86,571
75th Percentile
5.95% failures per 10K miles

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

About This Data

The 1988 Ford Orion has an MOT pass rate of 66.2% based on 1,297 tests โ€” slightly above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 56,789 miles on the odometer. With a 33.8% failure rate, the 1988 Orion is rated as "Good" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1988 Ford Orion, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to brakes: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel โ€” 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). At 56,789 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.

Brakes โ€” 0.9% of failures

Brakes issues account for 0.9% of MOT failures on 1988 Ford Orion models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components โ€” any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: ยฃ150โ€“400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel โ€” 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).

Suspension โ€” 0.6% of failures

Suspension issues account for 0.6% of MOT failures on 1988 Ford Orion 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.

Noise, emissions and leaks โ€” 0.3% of failures

Noise, emissions and leaks issues account for 0.3% of MOT failures on 1988 Ford Orion models. Emissions failures occur when exhaust gases exceed legal limits for carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), or particulate matter (diesel). Common causes include faulty oxygen sensors, clogged catalytic converters, or DPF issues on diesel vehicles. Typical repair costs: ยฃ100โ€“1,000+. Pre-MOT check: If the engine management light is on, get it diagnosed before the MOT. For diesel cars, ensure the DPF has completed a regeneration cycle. Regular servicing and using premium fuel before the test can help.

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

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