1994 Ford Probe — MOT failures & pass rate
266 MOT tests on the 1994 Ford Probe are in this dataset, and 75.2% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, emissions & environmental and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 15.4% of tests against 8.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 25 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 27.1% in the 30-60k band and 22.9% in the 120-150k band, a 4.2-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.0% in 2021 to 24.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.4% | 41 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 23 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 22 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.8% | 18 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 15 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 25 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 15 |
| 4 | Wipers | 15 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 13 |
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 | 38.4% | 102 |
| 2 | Suspension | 27.8% | 74 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.6% | 52 |
| 4 | Tyres | 18.4% | 49 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.9% | 45 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.9% | 21 |
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 | 48 | 27.1% |
| 60-90k | 58 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 25.6% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 22.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 29.0% |
| 2022 | 52 | 15.4% |
| 2023 | 55 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 40 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 50 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Probe
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 15.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (15.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (8.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1994 Ford Probes pass their MOT?
75.2% of the 266 1994 Ford Probe MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Ford Probe?
Brakes, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.6%).
Does the 1994 Probe get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.1% in the 30-60k band to 22.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 266 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.