1993 Ford Granada — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1993 Ford Granada passed 74.9% of its 378 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.7 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.1%) 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 component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 34 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.5% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 34.4% once past 150k — 2.8× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.6% in 2021 to 25.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 38 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 8.7% | 33 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.5% | 32 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 7.7% | 29 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 24 |
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 | 34 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 31 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 21 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 5 | Wipers | 18 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 15 |
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 | 33.6% | 127 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 107 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 25.4% | 96 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 62 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.0% | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 40 | 12.5% |
| 60-90k | 92 | 27.2% |
| 90-120k | 99 | 22.2% |
| 120-150k | 63 | 25.4% |
| 150k+ | 64 | 34.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 91 | 28.6% |
| 2022 | 77 | 24.7% |
| 2023 | 77 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 63 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Granada
On a 1993 Granada, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (10.1% 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 (8.7% 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 1993 Ford Granadas pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 378 1993 Ford Granada MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Ford Granada?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.5%).
Does the 1993 Granada get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.5% in the 30-60k band to 34.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 378 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.