Ford SIERRA - 1989
138.3 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 SIERRA, model year 1989.
Sample size: 511 cars, 914 tests and 1,264 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: 511 cars
The 1989 Ford Sierra has a significantly lower overall defect rate of 138 defects per 100 vehicles, compared to the yearly average of 249 defects per 100 vehicles, representing a reduction of about 45%. This model shows particularly impressive results in several categories, including brakes and steering, where it performs better than average by 40% and 64%, respectively. In terms of mileage-related trends, the defect rate increases notably at higher mileages, with vehicles over 124,000 miles showing a sharp rise to 650 defects per 100. While tyre wear is a common issue across vehicles, the Ford Sierra stands out positively in areas like visibility and lights and electrics, indicating a more reliable performance in these aspects compared to similar models from the same year.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 511 cars
More model years for Ford SIERRA
Other models from Ford
Categories
Brakes
▲ 40.3% better
58.0 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 pipe: inadequately clipped or supported
- Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
- Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▲ 64.8% better
9.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.1 / 100 tests
- Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
- 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
- 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
Visibility
▲ 39.5% better
13.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 22.0 / 100 tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper not operating or missing
- 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
Lights & Electrics
▲ 39.1% better
37.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.4 / 100 tests
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Indicator or hazard warning switch: does not operate in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 50.4% better
82.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 165.6 / 100 tests
- 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 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
▲ 42.6% better
35.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.7 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
- Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
- 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
▲ 49.2% better
9.4 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
- 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
- A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
Other
▲ 40.3% better
31.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.1 / 100 tests
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Smoke opacity levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
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: 120
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 59
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 59
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 56
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 52
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 50
Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 45
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 36
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 34
Serious faults (Top 10)
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 42
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 20
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
FAIL
Occurrences: 12
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: 9
A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 9
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
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: 8