1984 Ford Capri — MOT failures & pass rate
1,890 MOT tests on the 1984 Ford Capri are in this dataset, and 85.0% of them passed. That is effectively the same as coupes & convertibles of a similar age (15.3% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests against 6.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 85 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1984 Capri fails 14.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 14.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 15.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.7% in 2021 to 12.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 189 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 121 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 87 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 86 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.2% | 80 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.0% | 57 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 85 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 84 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 76 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 73 |
| 5 | Washers | 70 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 49 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 15.2% | 287 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.6% | 201 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.4% | 178 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 177 |
| 5 | Tyres | 6.6% | 125 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 96 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 641 | 14.5% |
| 30-60k | 432 | 16.2% |
| 60-90k | 596 | 14.9% |
| 90-120k | 216 | 14.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 438 | 16.7% |
| 2022 | 437 | 15.1% |
| 2023 | 423 | 14.7% |
| 2024 | 381 | 14.4% |
| 2025 | 211 | 12.8% |
What to check before buying a 1984 Capri
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Emissions & environmental (4.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1984 Ford Capris pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 1,890 1984 Ford Capri MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1984 Ford Capri?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by brakes (6.4%).
Does the 1984 Capri get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.5% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,890 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.