Ford Cortina MOT pass rate & common failures
1,518 MOT tests on the Ford Cortina (1980–2024) give it an 86.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 18.1% of the time, so this is 4.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.2%) and brakes (5.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 59 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Cortina fails 12.2% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 16.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.1% in 2021 to 11.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cortina model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 144 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1981 | 272 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Visibility |
| 1982 | 734 | 87.1% | 12.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1983 | 161 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 110 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.3% | 80 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.9% | 74 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 66 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.3% | 66 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 43 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.0% | 31 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.2% | 18 |
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 | 59 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 58 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 53 |
| 4 | Washers | 51 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 50 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 37 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 34 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 30 |
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 | 16.1% | 245 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 141 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.2% | 125 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.1% | 123 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 103 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.1% | 92 |
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 | 401 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 502 | 14.5% |
| 60-90k | 491 | 14.5% |
| 90-120k | 117 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 510 | 14.1% |
| 2022 | 399 | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 259 | 13.9% |
| 2024 | 187 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 163 | 11.0% |
What to check before buying a Ford Cortina
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.3% 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.
- Suspension (4.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Cortina?
86.4% of the 1,518 Ford Cortina MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.6% fail rate, across model years 1980–2024.
What does the Ford Cortina most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, then brakes (5.3%).
How much does mileage affect Cortina MOT results?
Fail rates run at 12.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.1% for 90-120k, a 1.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,518 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.