1984 Ford Granada — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 597 MOT tests, the 1984 Ford Granada recorded an 87.1% pass rate. That is 6.8 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 19.7%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.2%) and suspension (6.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 30 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 13.0% versus 18.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.6% in 2021 to 15.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 49 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 37 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 32 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 20 |
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 | 30 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 28 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 4 | Non catalyst emissions | 19 |
| 5 | Wipers | 16 |
| 6 | Washers | 16 |
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 | 21.3% | 127 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.4% | 80 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 13.2% | 79 |
| 4 | Brakes | 13.2% | 79 |
| 5 | Other defects | 10.5% | 63 |
| 6 | Tyres | 8.2% | 49 |
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 | 188 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 162 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 172 | 11.1% |
| 90-120k | 69 | 13.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 16.6% |
| 2022 | 155 | 12.3% |
| 2023 | 131 | 10.7% |
| 2024 | 94 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 60 | 15.0% |
What to check before buying a 1984 Granada
On a 1984 Granada, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.2% 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 (5.4% 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.
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 1984 Ford Granadas pass their MOT?
87.1% of the 597 1984 Ford Granada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1984 Ford Granada?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by suspension (6.2%).
Does the 1984 Granada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 597 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.