1991 Ford Granada — MOT failures & pass rate
255 MOT tests on the 1991 Ford Granada are in this dataset, and 81.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (22.4% fail rate), the 1991 Granada comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (7.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — headlamp alone was recorded 15 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 14.9% in the 30-60k band and 21.7% in the 120-150k band, a 6.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 18.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 20 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 18 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.9% | 15 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.9% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 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 | 15 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 14 |
| 3 | Wipers | 11 |
| 4 | Chassis condition | 11 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 9 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 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 | Brakes | 31.0% | 79 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 30.6% | 78 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.6% | 55 |
| 4 | Suspension | 21.2% | 54 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.1% | 36 |
| 6 | Other defects | 11.8% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 47 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 100 | 20.0% |
| 90-120k | 35 | 20.0% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 21.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 51 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 59 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 42 | 11.9% |
| 2025 | 43 | 20.9% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Granada
On a 1991 Granada, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (7.1% 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 (5.9% 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 1991 Ford Granadas pass their MOT?
81.6% of the 255 1991 Ford Granada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Ford Granada?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (7.1%).
Does the 1991 Granada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 30-60k band to 21.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 255 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.