1988 Ford Sierra Sapphire — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age

38 years

Current Age

97.8%

Latest Pass Rate

1,980

Total Tests (All Years)

56,890 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 Sierra Sapphire as it ages.

21 yrs59.7%

→ ↑4.7%

22 yrs64.4%

→ ↑2.3%

23 yrs66.7%

→ ↓3.3%

24 yrs63.4%

→ ↑7.0%

25 yrs70.4%

→ ↑4.8%

26 yrs75.2%

→ ↑5.5%

27 yrs80.7%

→ ↓1.2%

28 yrs79.5%

→ ↑7.7%

29 yrs87.2%

→ ↓0.6%

30 yrs86.6%

→ ↑2.7%

31 yrs89.3%

→ ↓1.5%

32 yrs87.8%

→ ↑0.5%

33 yrs88.3%

→ ↑0.1%

34 yrs88.4%

→ ↑7.3%

35 yrs95.7%

→ ↑2.1%

36 yrs97.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
21 yrs	59.7%	320
22 yrs	64.4%	253
23 yrs	66.7%	195
24 yrs	63.4%	164
25 yrs	70.4%	142
26 yrs	75.2%	133
27 yrs	80.7%	119
28 yrs	79.5%	122
29 yrs	87.2%	78
30 yrs	86.6%	67
31 yrs	89.3%	56
32 yrs	87.8%	41
33 yrs	88.3%	60
34 yrs	88.4%	69
35 yrs	95.7%	70
36 yrs	97.8%	91

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (36 yrs)	97.8%	91
2023 (35 yrs)	95.7%	70
2022 (34 yrs)	88.4%	69
2021 (33 yrs)	88.3%	60
2020 (32 yrs)	87.8%	41
2019 (31 yrs)	89.3%	56
2018 (30 yrs)	86.6%	67
2017 (29 yrs)	87.2%	78
2016 (28 yrs)	79.5%	122
2015 (27 yrs)	80.7%	119
2014 (26 yrs)	75.2%	133
2013 (25 yrs)	70.4%	142
2012 (24 yrs)	63.4%	164
2011 (23 yrs)	66.7%	195
2010 (22 yrs)	64.4%	253
2009 (21 yrs)	59.7%	320

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.7%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 320Avg Mileage 51,097Top Failure Suspension — 20.6%

2010High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 253Avg Mileage 48,376Top Failure Suspension — 17.0%

2011

66.7%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 195Avg Mileage 49,814Top Failure Brakes — 15.4%

2012High Fail Rate

63.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 164Avg Mileage 49,492Top Failure Suspension — 20.1%

2013

70.4%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 142Avg Mileage 52,277Top Failure Suspension — 52.8%

2014

75.2%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 133Avg Mileage 49,957Top Failure Brakes — 33.8%

2015

80.7%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 119Avg Mileage 51,914Top Failure Brakes — 19.3%

2016

79.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 122Avg Mileage 50,920Top Failure Brakes — 23.8%

2017

87.2%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 78Avg Mileage 50,683Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 3.8%

2018

86.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 67Avg Mileage 43,933Top Failure Brakes — 13.4%

2019

89.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 56Avg Mileage 48,885Top Failure Brakes — 8.9%

2020

87.8%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 41Avg Mileage 45,746Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 17.1%

2021

88.3%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 60Avg Mileage 48,935Top Failure Brakes — 18.3%

2022

88.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 69Avg Mileage 48,622Top Failure Brakes — 13.0%

2023

95.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 70Avg Mileage 48,913Top Failure Suspension — 8.6%

2024

97.8%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 91Avg Mileage 56,890Top Failure Suspension — 2.2%

MOT results for 1988 Ford Sierra Sapphire by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	21	59.7%	320	51,097	Suspension — 20.6%
2010	22	64.4%	253	48,376	Suspension — 17.0%
2011	23	66.7%	195	49,814	Brakes — 15.4%
2012	24	63.4%	164	49,492	Suspension — 20.1%
2013	25	70.4%	142	52,277	Suspension — 52.8%
2014	26	75.2%	133	49,957	Brakes — 33.8%
2015	27	80.7%	119	51,914	Brakes — 19.3%
2016	28	79.5%	122	50,920	Brakes — 23.8%
2017	29	87.2%	78	50,683	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 3.8%
2018	30	86.6%	67	43,933	Brakes — 13.4%
2019	31	89.3%	56	48,885	Brakes — 8.9%
2020	32	87.8%	41	45,746	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 17.1%
2021	33	88.3%	60	48,935	Brakes — 18.3%
2022	34	88.4%	69	48,622	Brakes — 13.0%
2023	35	95.7%	70	48,913	Suspension — 8.6%
2024	36	97.8%	91	56,890	Suspension — 2.2%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

17.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

17.3%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

15.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

10.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Driver's View of the Road

10.6%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	20.6% (21 yrs)	2.2% (36 yrs)	-18.4%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

← Back to Ford Sierra Sapphire overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how Ford Sierra Sapphire cars manufactured in 1988 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 1,980 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.