1986 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1986 Ford Fiesta passed 85.5% of its 663 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (19.6% fail rate), the 1986 Fiesta comes out 5.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.6% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and non catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 32 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 7.1% versus 13.0%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 17.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 19.3% in 2021 to 13.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 57 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 34 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 32 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.7% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 28 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 28 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 22 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 19 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 17 |
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 | 17.5% | 116 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.5% | 76 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 71 |
| 4 | Tyres | 6.3% | 42 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 38 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.5% | 30 |
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 | 139 | 13.0% |
| 30-60k | 226 | 13.3% |
| 60-90k | 234 | 18.4% |
| 90-120k | 56 | 7.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 140 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 130 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 129 | 12.4% |
| 2024 | 133 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 131 | 13.7% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Fiesta
On a 1986 Fiesta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.1% 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+.
- Suspension (4.8% 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.
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 1986 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
85.5% of the 663 1986 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Ford Fiesta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (5.1%).
Does the 1986 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 0-30k band to 7.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 663 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.