Ford Dorchester MOT pass rate & common failures
The Ford Dorchester appears in 1,699 MOT tests spanning model years 1981–2016, and 77.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.5% of the time, so this is 1.7pp 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 (12.0%) and brakes (9.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, wipers and rbt (sp) — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 92 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.8% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.3% once past 120-150k — 3.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 31.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Dorchester model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 85 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 108 | 71.3% | 28.7% | Brakes |
| 2005 | 101 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Brakes |
| 2006 | 155 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 187 | 77.0% | 23.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 165 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Suspension |
| 2009 | 123 | 79.7% | 20.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 155 | 76.8% | 23.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 128 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 64 | 71.9% | 28.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 61 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Brakes |
| 2014 | 175 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 55 | 87.3% | 12.7% | Visibility |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 204 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.7% | 165 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.2% | 156 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.1% | 104 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 102 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.8% | 65 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.9% | 50 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 27 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 92 |
| 2 | Wipers | 73 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 69 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 69 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 67 |
| 6 | Washers | 63 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 62 |
| 8 | Headlamp | 54 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 31.9% | 542 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.2% | 480 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.1% | 376 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 202 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 9.9% | 168 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 143 |
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 | 80 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 445 | 19.8% |
| 60-90k | 697 | 24.4% |
| 90-120k | 357 | 25.2% |
| 120-150k | 99 | 27.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 401 | 23.7% |
| 2022 | 379 | 22.2% |
| 2023 | 340 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 308 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 271 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a Ford Dorchester
- Lighting & signalling (12.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.7% 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 (9.2% 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 Dorchester?
77.2% of the 1,699 Ford Dorchester MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.8% fail rate, across model years 1981–2016.
What does the Ford Dorchester most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.0% of tests, then brakes (9.7%).
How much does mileage affect Dorchester MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.3% for 120-150k, a 18.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,699 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.