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Ford Escort (1991)

23,447 real MOT outcomes analysed • 51.7% first-time pass rate

1991 Ford Escort

CarHunch analysed 23,447 real MOT records for the 1991 Ford Escort. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 28.3% below UK average
51.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
53,699
typical mileage
24,314–78,973 middle half
9.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.21
avg MOT failures per car
over 3.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1991 Ford Escort

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Ford Escort

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (81%) 19,076 51.6% 1.21
Diesel (19%) 4,363 52.2% 1.19
Electric (0%) 3 66.7% 0.67
LPG (0%) 2 54.2% 3
Other (0%) 1 100% 0
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) 1 0% 0
Fuel Cells (0%) 1 0% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Ford Escort vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

24,314
low mileage
53,699
typical
78,973
high mileage

Half of all 1991 Ford Escort vehicles fall between 24,314 and 78,973 miles.

1991 Ford Escort — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 241 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (41% of peak).

586 241 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

3.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.21
Avg failures per vehicle
2.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1991 Ford Escort

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 23.9%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 23.3%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 21.7%
    Oil leak
  • 15.7%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 15.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 13.7%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 13.3%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 11.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Ford Escort?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Ford Escort:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002