Ford ESCORT - 1985
97.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1985 is 240.5 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford ESCORT, model year 1985.
Sample size: 554 cars, 919 tests and 894 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 554 cars
The 1985 Ford Escort has an overall defect rate of 97 defects per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the yearly average of 238 defects per 100 vehicles, representing a 59% improvement. This model shows particularly impressive performance in categories such as brakes, steering, and visibility, with defect rates well below the average for its year. Interestingly, while tyre wear is a common issue, the Escort excels in several other areas, showing less susceptibility to defects compared to its contemporaries. Mileage-related trends indicate that vehicles with lower mileage (0-31,000 miles) have higher defects than average, but this model remains consistently better across all mileage brackets. Overall, the Escort stands out for its reliability and lower defect rates in critical categories.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 554 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 55.2% better
37.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 83.5 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
- Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
Steering
▲ 85.9% better
4.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 31.1 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 56.4% better
9.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.5 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 46.1% better
30.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 57.3 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- A lamp adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 53.9% better
74.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 160.6 / 100 tests
- A wheel bearing: with excessive play
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
Body/Structure
▲ 68.1% better
17.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 55.8 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
Equipment
▲ 84.2% better
2.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.7 / 100 tests
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
- Seat belt not functioning as intended or of an incorrect type
Other
▲ 66.9% better
17.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 52.6 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 67
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 58
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 54
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 47
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 29
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 28
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 26
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 25
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 24
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 15
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
A wheel bearing: excessively rough
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 7