MOT failure data · 2025

Ford Escort MOT problems

Across every Ford Escort that failed its 2025 MOT, the defect testers recorded most often was component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, on 8% of failure items. The broadest problem area was suspension at 20.88%. These are recorded defects across the model, not a diagnosis of any one car.

Most common Ford Escort MOT failures

#	Recorded defect	Area	Share
1	Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength	Suspension	8%
2	Service brake imbalance across an axle	Brakes	4.05%
3	Joints constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt	Body, chassis, structure	3.26%
4	Prescribed areas prescribed area strength or continuity significantly reduced	Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems	2.69%
5	Wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively	Visibility	2.38%
6	Pins and bushes pin or bush excessively worn	Suspension	2.07%
7	Position lamp not working	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	2.06%
8	Integral vehicle structure condition corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced	Body, chassis, structure	2.04%
9	Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded	Brakes	2.03%
10	Service brake performance efficiency below requirements	Brakes	1.93%

Shares are of all recorded failure items for this model, so they sum to less than 100% — a single failed test often records several defects, and the long tail below the top 10 is not shown.

What this means if you are buying one

Use it as a viewing checklist. If you are looking at a Ford Escort, these are the areas worth inspecting and worth asking about — and worth reading the car's own MOT history for, since a defect that keeps reappearing as an advisory is a better signal than any model-wide average.

The MOT record also has hard limits: it does not check the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it says nothing about outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers or whether the mileage is genuine. Our used Ford Escort buying guide covers what to check beyond the MOT.

Checking a specific Ford Escort?

Enter its registration for finance, write-off, stolen, mileage and keeper history.

Other Ford models

Ford Escort MOT FAQs

What does a Ford Escort most commonly fail its MOT on?

The single most recorded defect on Ford Escort cars failing their 2025 MOT was "component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength", appearing on 8% of failure items.

Does this mean my Ford Escort will fail?

No. This is what testers recorded across every Ford Escort that failed in 2025. It shows where this model tends to need attention, not the condition of any individual car. The Ford Escort passed 82.83% of its initial tests.

How do I see a specific Ford Escort's MOT history?

Enter its registration on our free MOT history check to see that car's own test results, advisories and recorded mileages.

Defect counts from the DVSA MOT Anonymised test-item data for 2025 (class 4 initial tests, failure items only — advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.