Ford ESCORT - 1989
167.9 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1989 is 252.8 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford ESCORT, model year 1989.
Sample size: 1,103 cars, 1,925 tests and 3,232 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: 1,103 cars
The 1989 Ford Escort has an overall defect rate of 168 defects per 100 vehicles, which is significantly lower than the yearly average of 249 defects per 100. The Escort performs particularly well in categories such as brakes, steering, and visibility, showing a notable reduction in defects compared to the average car of the same year. Interestingly, while tyre wear is common across many vehicles, the Escort's standout issues are more related to its braking and steering systems, which feature much lower defect rates. Additionally, the defect rates tend to decrease with mileage, particularly in the higher mileage categories, indicating better performance as the vehicle ages.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 1,103 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 38.4% better
59.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 97.1 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
- 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
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 53.6% better
12.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.1 / 100 tests
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- 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
- Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
Visibility
▲ 30.5% better
15.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.0 / 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 blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
Lights & Electrics
▲ 32.9% better
41.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.4 / 100 tests
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- 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 lamp adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp
- A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 23.4% better
126.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 165.6 / 100 tests
- A wheel bearing: with excessive play
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 33.5% better
41.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.7 / 100 tests
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- 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: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
Equipment
▲ 79.5% better
3.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 18.5 / 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
- 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
- Speedometer: not sufficiently illuminated
- Audible warning:
- Audible warning:
Other
▲ 32.8% better
35.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.1 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions test unable to be completed
- 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
- 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: 251
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 204
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 194
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 160
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 141
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 126
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 118
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 104
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 92
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 87
Serious faults (Top 10)
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: 55
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 51
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 36
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 33
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 25
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 22