2001 Ford Escort — MOT failures & pass rate
3,020 MOT tests on the 2001 Ford Escort are in this dataset, and 71.4% of them passed. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests against 13.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, integral vehicle structure condition and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 694 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.4% in the 0-30k band and 26.4% in the 150k+ band, a 9.0-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 36.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 31.4% in 2021 to 25.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.3% | 523 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.3% | 402 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 389 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.6% | 381 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.0% | 180 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.1% | 154 |
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 | 694 |
| 2 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 227 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 211 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 201 |
| 5 | Joints | 149 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 149 |
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 | 36.9% | 1,113 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.8% | 991 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.3% | 702 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.8% | 689 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.7% | 445 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.6% | 380 |
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 | 46 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 300 | 26.3% |
| 60-90k | 817 | 28.6% |
| 90-120k | 975 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 536 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 337 | 26.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,574 | 28.1% |
| Petrol | 446 | 31.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 896 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 699 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 564 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 476 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 385 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Escort
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 17.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (17.3% 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 (13.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% 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 2001 Ford Escorts pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 3,020 2001 Ford Escort MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Ford Escort?
Suspension, recorded in 17.3% of tests, followed by brakes (13.3%).
Does the 2001 Escort get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 26.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,020 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.