Ford Escort MOT pass rate: 82.8% (9,483 tests, 2025)

The Ford Escort passed 82.8% of its 9,483 MOT tests in 2025 — 5.3 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 35 years old with 53,142 miles on the clock.

82.8%Pass rate (2025)

9,483MOT tests analysed

53,142 miMedian mileage at test

35 yrsMedian age at test

How the Escort compares

Ford Escort

82.8%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Ford average (all models)

75.3%

What fails most on the Ford Escort

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the Escort:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	1,357	21.8%
2	Brakes	1,280	20.5%
3	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,224	19.6%
4	Body, chassis, structure	869	13.9%
5	Noise, emissions and leaks	585	9.4%
6	Visibility	394	6.3%

Pre-MOT checklist for Escort owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Look underneath for corrosion around sills and subframes, especially on older cars
A blowing exhaust or visible smoke will fail; warm the engine fully before the test

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Check a specific Escort before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Ford models

Fiesta71.7% pass rate · 1,279,795 tests Focus74.3% pass rate · 850,793 tests Transit68.9% pass rate · 275,334 tests Kuga81.7% pass rate · 248,991 tests Mondeo73.0% pass rate · 171,083 tests Ka72.1% pass rate · 168,504 tests Transit Connect73.2% pass rate · 157,376 tests Ranger77.4% pass rate · 121,272 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Ford Escort?

In 2025, 82.8% of 9,483 first MOT tests on the Ford Escort were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the Escort fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (21.8% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the Ford Escort reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 82.8% it performs above the national average at a median age of 35 years and 53,142 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.