Ford ESCORT - 1996
269.2 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1996 is 337.1 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford ESCORT, model year 1996.
Sample size: 668 cars, 1,322 tests and 3,559 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: 668 cars
The 1996 Ford Escort has a lower overall defect rate compared to the yearly average, recording 269 defects per 100 vehicles, which is 18% better than the average of 330. In terms of mileage-related trends, the model shows a consistent increase in defects, peaking at 490 defects per 100 vehicles in the 62,000 to 93,000 miles category before declining. Notable strengths include significantly fewer issues with steering, lights and electrics, and general equipment compared to the average vehicle, highlighting its reliability in these areas. However, there are no major categories where the Escort is performing worse than average.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 668 cars
Categories
Brakes
▲ 7.8% better
126.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 136.6 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- 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
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▲ 82.5% better
5.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 30.8 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▲ 15.2% better
23.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 27.6 / 100 tests
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- 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
- Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
Lights & Electrics
▲ 37.2% better
41.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.2 / 100 tests
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
- 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 rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
- A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 16.7% better
195.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 234.4 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▼ 0.5% worse
87.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 86.6 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▲ 28.5% better
18.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.0 / 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:
- 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
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A seat belt: or flexible stalk damaged
Other
▲ 38.1% better
40.8 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 65.9 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
- 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: 285
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 197
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 179
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 166
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 165
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 144
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 123
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 118
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 114
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 103
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 103
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 55
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 46
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
FAIL
Occurrences: 44
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
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: 42
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 39
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 31
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 30