1997 Ford Fiesta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,995 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Ford Fiesta, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 68.0% was below the average for superminis of a similar age (70.9%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.3% | 915 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.6% | 731 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.3% | 662 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 543 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.1% | 353 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.9% | 243 |
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 | 824 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 389 |
| 3 | Joints | 384 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 381 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 341 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 247 |
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 | 43.7% | 2,184 |
| 2 | Brakes | 36.7% | 1,831 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.8% | 1,286 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.8% | 1,089 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.9% | 646 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 568 |
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 | 788 | 30.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,979 | 31.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,834 | 33.7% |
| 90-120k | 383 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,885 | 32.0% |
| Diesel | 110 | 31.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,580 | 33.4% |
| 2022 | 1,232 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 960 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 689 | 31.4% |
| 2025 | 534 | 31.1% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Fiesta
Before buying a 1997 Ford Fiesta, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 18.3% of tests for this year.
- Suspension (18.3% 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 (14.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.3% 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+.
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 1997 Ford Fiestas pass their MOT?
68.0% of the 4,995 1997 Ford Fiesta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Ford Fiesta?
Suspension, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by brakes (14.6%).
Does the 1997 Fiesta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,995 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.