1984 Ford Escort — MOT failures & pass rate
746 MOT tests on the 1984 Ford Escort are in this dataset, and 85.0% of them passed. Against small family cars of a similar age (16.5% fail rate), the 1984 Escort comes out 1.5pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.1% of all tests — 3.9 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 49 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1984 Escort fails 16.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 18.4% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 23.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.9% in 2021 to 7.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 75 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 46 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.0% | 45 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 40 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.0% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 21 |
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 | 49 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 27 |
| 4 | Washers | 22 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 21 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 20 |
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 | 23.5% | 175 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 110 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 86 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 75 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.5% | 63 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.1% | 38 |
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 | 186 | 16.1% |
| 30-60k | 218 | 12.8% |
| 60-90k | 233 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 98 | 18.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 173 | 13.9% |
| 2022 | 192 | 16.2% |
| 2023 | 165 | 15.2% |
| 2024 | 147 | 18.4% |
| 2025 | 69 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 1984 Escort
On a 1984 Escort, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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.
- Brakes (6.0% 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.
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 Escorts pass their MOT?
85.0% of the 746 1984 Ford Escort MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1984 Ford Escort?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by suspension (6.2%).
Does the 1984 Escort get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 746 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.