Ford Escort L — Reliability by Year
597,559 vehicles · MOT data 1980–1997 · first-test pass rates
This page shows MOT first-test pass rates for each year the Ford Escort L was manufactured — click any year to explore that cohort in detail. Trying to decide which year to buy? See the full buying guide →
| Year | Pass rate | Avg mileage | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 |
|
— | 177 |
| 1996 |
|
— | 601 |
| 1995 |
|
77,366 mi | 1,268 |
| 1994 |
|
— | 5,582 |
| 1993 |
|
— | 5,706 |
| 1992 |
|
— | 8,486 |
| 1991 |
|
— | 7,060 |
| 1990 |
|
67,783 mi | 12,119 |
| 1989 |
|
48,706 mi | 37,657 |
| 1988 |
|
— | 34,258 |
| 1987 |
|
— | 45,116 |
| 1986 |
|
17,954 mi | 46,998 |
| 1985 |
|
— | 56,492 |
| 1984 |
|
— | 61,335 |
| 1983 |
|
66,892 mi | 73,585 |
| 1982 |
|
0 mi | 81,823 |
| 1981 |
|
5,893 mi | 66,858 |
| 1980 |
|
61,119 mi | 52,438 |
Which year Ford Escort L is most reliable?
MOT pass rate by year of manufacture — averaged across each vehicle's lifetime of tests. Green = noticeably above average for this model; red = noticeably below average.
Tests range from an average of 5,893 miles (newest year) to 77,366 miles (oldest year). Older years naturally accumulate more tests at higher mileages — see the mileage-normalised breakdown →
We've done the full analysis — which years to look for, which to avoid, and where to find the best value for reliability on a Ford Escort L.
Check any UK registration — free MOT history and risk insights.