1998 Ford Escort — MOT failures & pass rate
3,318 MOT tests on the 1998 Ford Escort are in this dataset, and 71.9% of them passed. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 1.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.4%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.2%) 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, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 413 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 Escort fails 28.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 32.0% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 28.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.4% | 446 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 405 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.6% | 386 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 346 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 279 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 175 |
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 | 413 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 317 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 241 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 217 |
| 5 | Joints | 191 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 168 |
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 | 28.5% | 945 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.0% | 796 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.8% | 722 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.7% | 620 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.1% | 334 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 278 |
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 | 698 | 28.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,039 | 25.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,210 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 344 | 32.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,849 | 28.5% |
| Diesel | 469 | 26.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 901 | 29.2% |
| 2022 | 805 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 631 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 492 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 489 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 Escort
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (13.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.2% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (11.6% 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 1998 Ford Escorts pass their MOT?
71.9% of the 3,318 1998 Ford Escort MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Ford Escort?
Suspension, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.2%).
Does the 1998 Escort get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,318 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.