Ford P100 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Ford P100 appears in 1,679 MOT tests spanning model years 1983–2020, and 80.3% of them passed. That is 2.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.2%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests against 7.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, position lamp and prescribed areas — stop lamp alone was recorded 146 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the P100 fails 19.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 19.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.3 points.
The petrol cars hold up better: 18.8% fail against 20.7% for diesel, a 1.9-point gap across 1,679 tests.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.7% in 2021 to 17.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every P100 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 34 | 64.7% | 35.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 32 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 130 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 406 | 81.5% | 18.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 339 | 82.3% | 17.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 427 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 203 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 294 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 128 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.4% | 125 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 109 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 77 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 70 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.6% | 60 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.0% | 50 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 146 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 91 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 91 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 87 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 82 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 72 |
| 7 | Wipers | 56 |
| 8 | Chassis condition | 55 |
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 | 21.4% | 360 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.4% | 293 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 273 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.5% | 177 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 171 |
| 6 | Tyres | 9.6% | 161 |
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 | 565 | 19.3% |
| 30-60k | 436 | 17.4% |
| 60-90k | 487 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 174 | 19.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 888 | 18.8% |
| Diesel | 791 | 20.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 405 | 21.7% |
| 2022 | 378 | 19.1% |
| 2023 | 318 | 18.2% |
| 2024 | 297 | 21.6% |
| 2025 | 281 | 17.4% |
What to check before buying a Ford P100
- Lighting & signalling (17.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Brakes (7.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford P100?
80.3% of the 1,679 Ford P100 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.7% fail rate, across model years 1983–2020.
What does the Ford P100 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.5% of tests, then suspension (7.6%).
How much does mileage affect P100 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.5% for 90-120k, a 0.3-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel P100 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 18.8% of the time against 20.7% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,679 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.