Ford Orion MOT pass rate & common failures
2,063 MOT tests on the Ford Orion (1983–2021) give it an 84.2% pass rate. That is 5.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.4%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.7%) and suspension (7.2%) 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 aim and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 157 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Orion fails 17.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 17.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.2 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 20.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 16.4% in 2021 to 13.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Orion model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 85 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 169 | 84.0% | 16.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 88 | 84.1% | 15.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 108 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 265 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 418 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 486 | 83.5% | 16.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 119 | 83.2% | 16.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 117 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Suspension |
| 1993 | 183 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 199 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.2% | 148 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.9% | 121 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.2% | 107 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 92 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 70 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.9% | 40 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.9% | 39 |
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 | 157 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 65 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 64 |
| 5 | Non catalyst emissions | 64 |
| 6 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 56 |
| 7 | Headlamp | 52 |
| 8 | Service brake imbalance | 50 |
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 | 20.1% | 415 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.1% | 291 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.2% | 272 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 262 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.6% | 218 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.2% | 128 |
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 | 469 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 669 | 14.9% |
| 60-90k | 681 | 15.3% |
| 90-120k | 240 | 17.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,992 | 16.0% |
| Diesel | 71 | 11.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 444 | 16.4% |
| 2022 | 436 | 16.7% |
| 2023 | 435 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 394 | 14.7% |
| 2025 | 354 | 13.0% |
What to check before buying a Ford Orion
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (7.2% 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 (5.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Orion?
84.2% of the 2,063 Ford Orion MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 15.8% fail rate, across model years 1983–2021.
What does the Ford Orion most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, then suspension (7.2%).
How much does mileage affect Orion MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.1% for 90-120k, a 0.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,063 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.