1992 Ford P100 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Ford P100 passed 79.9% of its 427 recorded MOT tests. That is 2.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, suspension and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 15.5% of all tests — 6.6 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are stop lamp, prescribed areas and rear fog lamp — stop lamp alone was recorded 29 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 23.3% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 20.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.8% in 2021 to 11.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 66 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.9% | 38 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 30 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 28 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.0% | 17 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.3% | 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 | 29 |
| 2 | Prescribed areas | 27 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 24 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
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 | 20.8% | 89 |
| 2 | Brakes | 19.4% | 83 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.7% | 67 |
| 4 | Other defects | 10.5% | 45 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.1% | 43 |
| 6 | Tyres | 9.4% | 40 |
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 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 101 | 14.8% |
| 60-90k | 134 | 24.6% |
| 90-120k | 60 | 23.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 287 | 21.9% |
| Petrol | 140 | 16.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 109 | 24.8% |
| 2022 | 105 | 22.9% |
| 2023 | 80 | 17.5% |
| 2024 | 65 | 20.0% |
| 2025 | 68 | 11.8% |
What to check before buying a 1992 P100
On a 1992 P100, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (8.9% 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.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 1992 Ford P100s pass their MOT?
79.9% of the 427 1992 Ford P100 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 20.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Ford P100?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.5% of tests, followed by suspension (8.9%).
Does the 1992 P100 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 23.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 427 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.