1990 Ford Granada — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1990 Ford Granada passed 79.2% of its 264 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 21.9% of the time, so this is 1.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.6%) and body, structure & corrosion (9.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, chassis condition and pins and bushes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 20 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 11.1% in the 30-60k band and 16.2% in the 120-150k band, a 5.1-point spread.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 25.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 17.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.6% | 28 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 25 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.6% | 20 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.4% | 17 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 9 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 8 |
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 | 20 |
| 2 | Chassis condition | 14 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 14 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 9 |
| 6 | Joints | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 25.8% | 68 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.2% | 64 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.7% | 60 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 43 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.3% | 35 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.2% | 27 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 36 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 20.2% |
| 90-120k | 66 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 16.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 64 | 17.2% |
| 2022 | 62 | 27.4% |
| 2023 | 51 | 17.6% |
| 2024 | 43 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 44 | 22.7% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Granada
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.5% 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 (7.6% 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 1990 Ford Granadas pass their MOT?
79.2% of the 264 1990 Ford Granada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Ford Granada?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.5%).
Does the 1990 Granada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.1% in the 30-60k band to 16.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264 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.