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Pass Your MOT

1965 Lotus Cortina MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Cortina models manufactured in 1965, based on 47 real MOT test results.

87.2%
Pass Rate
12.8%
Fail Rate
47
Total Tests
44,687
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1965 Lotus Cortina MOT Analysis

The 1965 Lotus Cortina has an MOT pass rate of 87.2% based on 47 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 44,687 miles on the odometer. With a 12.8% failure rate, the 1965 Cortina is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1965 Lotus Cortina is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, responsible for 19.1% of failures. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs range from £5–50. Driver's View of the Road is the second most common issue at 4.3%. Brakes follows at 2.1%.

⚠ Based on limited data (47 tests)

Top failures specific to 1965 models only. The overall Cortina 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
1Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment19.1%9
2Driver's View Of The Road4.3%2
3Brakes2.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 44,687 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.

Lamps & Electrical4.29% per 10K miVisibility0.95% per 10K miBrakes0.48% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Lamps & Electrical4.2919.1%9
Visibility0.954.3%2
Brakes0.482.1%1

Mileage Statistics

44,687
Mean
65,000
Median
13,673
25th Percentile
93,875
75th Percentile
2.86% failures per 10K miles

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

About This Data

The 1965 Lotus Cortina has an MOT pass rate of 87.2% based on 47 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 44,687 miles on the odometer. With a 12.8% failure rate, the 1965 Cortina is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1965 Lotus Cortina, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test. With relatively low average mileage of 44,687 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.1% of failures

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 19.1% of MOT failures on 1965 Lotus Cortina models. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.

Driver's View of the Road — 4.3% of failures

Driver's View of the Road issues account for 4.3% of MOT failures on 1965 Lotus Cortina models. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.

Brakes — 2.1% of failures

Brakes issues account for 2.1% of MOT failures on 1965 Lotus Cortina models. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — 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).

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

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