1981 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 353 MOT tests, the 1981 Ford Fiesta recorded an 88.4% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (13.4% fail rate), the 1981 Fiesta comes out 1.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.9%) and brakes (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1981 Fiesta fails 12.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.5% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 13.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 17.2% in 2021 to 10.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.9% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.1% | 18 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.0% | 14 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.7% | 13 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.0% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 15 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 14 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 4 | Non catalyst emissions | 10 |
| 5 | Washers | 8 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 7 |
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 | 13.6% | 48 |
| 2 | Brakes | 9.1% | 32 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 27 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.2% | 22 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.4% | 19 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.3% | 15 |
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 | 96 | 12.5% |
| 30-60k | 122 | 5.7% |
| 60-90k | 104 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 145 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 78 | 10.3% |
| 2023 | 53 | 5.7% |
| 2024 | 38 | 2.6% |
| 2025 | 39 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 1981 Fiesta
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.1% 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.
- Visibility (4.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 1981 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 353 1981 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1981 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.9% of tests, followed by brakes (5.1%).
Does the 1981 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 0-30k band to 13.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 353 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.