1999 Ford Escort — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,669 MOT tests, the 1999 Ford Escort recorded a 71.6% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 1.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 16.8% of all tests — 4.8 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, prescribed areas and chassis condition — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 349 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 Escort fails 28.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 29.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 1.8pp more often than petrol ones (29.5% vs 27.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.8% | 280 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 200 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 180 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.9% | 165 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.6% | 93 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 81 |
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 | 349 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 148 |
| 3 | Chassis condition | 131 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 91 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 77 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 68 |
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 | 31.3% | 523 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.2% | 504 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 24.4% | 408 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.1% | 319 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.7% | 178 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 170 |
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 | 384 | 28.1% |
| 30-60k | 541 | 27.5% |
| 60-90k | 533 | 28.9% |
| 90-120k | 158 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,004 | 27.7% |
| Diesel | 665 | 29.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 491 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 394 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 308 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 260 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 216 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 1999 Escort
On a 1999 Escort, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 16.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (16.8% 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 (12.0% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1999 Ford Escorts pass their MOT?
71.6% of the 1,669 1999 Ford Escort MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Ford Escort?
Suspension, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.0%).
Does the 1999 Escort get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.1% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,669 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.