1988 Ford Sierra — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,107 MOT tests analysed for the 1988 Ford Sierra, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension. Its pass rate of 87.7% was above the average for cars of a similar age (80.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 60 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 56 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.5% | 50 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 42 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 40 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.5% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 44 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 34 |
| 3 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 27 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 26 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 20 |
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 | 13.3% | 147 |
| 2 | Suspension | 12.2% | 135 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 104 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.2% | 102 |
| 5 | Tyres | 7.8% | 86 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.4% | 71 |
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 | 327 | 11.0% |
| 30-60k | 280 | 13.9% |
| 60-90k | 323 | 12.4% |
| 90-120k | 171 | 12.3% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,077 | 12.1% |
| Diesel | 30 | 20.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 229 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 224 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 212 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 221 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 221 | 9.5% |
What to check before buying a 1988 Sierra
Before buying a 1988 Ford Sierra, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 5.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (4.5% 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.
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 1988 Ford Sierras pass their MOT?
87.7% of the 1,107 1988 Ford Sierra MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1988 Ford Sierra?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.1%).
Does the 1988 Sierra get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.0% in the 0-30k band to 12.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,107 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.