1991 Ford P100 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 339 MOT tests, the 1991 Ford P100 recorded an 82.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 22.4% of the time, so this is 4.7pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests against 6.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, rear fog lamp and position lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 35 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1991 P100 fails 15.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 18.1% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 22.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.7% in 2021 to 14.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 63 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.5% | 22 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 19 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 17 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 16 |
| 6 | Suspension | 4.1% | 14 |
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 | 35 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 21 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 16 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 12 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 12 |
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 | 22.4% | 76 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.5% | 66 |
| 3 | Other defects | 16.5% | 56 |
| 4 | Brakes | 15.3% | 52 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 39 |
| 6 | Tyres | 10.6% | 36 |
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 | 126 | 15.1% |
| 30-60k | 101 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 83 | 18.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 186 | 18.3% |
| Diesel | 153 | 17.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 20.7% |
| 2022 | 81 | 18.5% |
| 2023 | 70 | 18.6% |
| 2024 | 57 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 49 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 1991 P100
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 18.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (18.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (6.5% 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+.
- Brakes (5.6% 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
How many 1991 Ford P100s pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 339 1991 Ford P100 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Ford P100?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 18.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (6.5%).
Does the 1991 P100 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.1% in the 0-30k band to 18.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 339 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.