Ford ESCORT - 1998
323.5 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1998 is 342.9 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Ford ESCORT, model year 1998.
Sample size: 476 cars, 967 tests and 3,128 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: 476 cars
The 1998 Ford Escort has an overall defect rate of 323 per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the yearly average of 339 per 100 vehicles, showing a 4.6% improvement. Notably, the Escort performs particularly well in the steering and lights & electrics categories, with defects at 15% and 46% respectively, both significantly below the average. However, it struggles in the body/structure category, where it has a defect rate of 99%, notably higher than the average of 76%. Additionally, as mileage increases, the defect rates for the model exhibit a general upward trend, particularly in the highest mileage bracket.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 476 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 3.9% worse
155.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 149.4 / 100 tests
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Brake pipe damaged or 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
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▲ 41.0% better
15.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.6 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Excessive radial movement between the top of the steering column and the shaft indicating an excessively worn top bearing
Visibility
▲ 11.0% better
23.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.3 / 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: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 30.6% better
46.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 66.7 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
- Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 9.9% better
232.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 257.8 / 100 tests
- A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- 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
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
Body/Structure
▼ 23.6% worse
99.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 80.5 / 100 tests
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- 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
- 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
Equipment
▼ 48.0% worse
30.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.4 / 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
- A seat belt:
- 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
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
- Audible warning:
Other
▲ 24.2% better
44.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 59.0 / 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: 264
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 164
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 148
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 146
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 134
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 130
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 117
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 89
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 88
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 65
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 117
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 54
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
FAIL
Occurrences: 43
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 40
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: 35
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 35
Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 34
Service brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
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: 27