Ford ESCORT - 1987
170.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1987 is 238.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford ESCORT, model year 1987.
Sample size: 388 cars, 721 tests and 1,227 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: 388 cars
The 1987 Ford Escort has an overall defect rate of 170 per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the yearly average of 234 per 100, reflecting a 27% improvement. Notably, the model is particularly good in several categories, including brakes and steering, with defect rates well below average—brakes at 59% compared to the average of 86% and steering at just 12% against an average of 29%. The defect rates increase with mileage, peaking at 700 per 100 for vehicles over 124,000 miles, but remain favourable for lower mileage segments. Overall, the Escort's performance is commendable, especially in safety-related areas compared to its peers from the same year.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 388 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 32.3% better
59.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 87.7 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- 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
- Service brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
Steering
▲ 57.0% better
12.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.1 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- 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 to the extent that safe steering is affected
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- Excessive radial movement between the top of the steering column and the shaft indicating an excessively worn top bearing
Visibility
▲ 34.5% better
13.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.3 / 100 tests
- Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper not operating or missing
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 15.6% better
53.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 62.8 / 100 tests
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A lamp adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 15.5% better
125.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 148.8 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A wheel bearing: with excessive play
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▲ 24.0% better
40.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.7 / 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
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▲ 60.3% better
8.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.9 / 100 tests
- 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
- Audible warning:
- Seat belt buckle missing, damaged or not functioning as intended
- 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
- Audible warning not in accordance with requirements
Other
▲ 48.1% better
27.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.0 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
- Emissions test unable to be completed
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.
Most common faults (Top 10)
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 78
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 76
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 64
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 63
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 58
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 46
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 38
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 35
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 29
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Serious faults (Top 10)
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 29
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 22
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
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: 18
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 17
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 12