Ford Escort (1998)
1998 Ford Escort
CarHunch analysed 118,795 real MOT records for the 1998 Ford Escort. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1998 Ford Escort falls well short of the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 63.7% against the national 80%—a significant gap that reflects age-related wear. More concerning, one in five of these cars (22.3%) has logged a dangerous defect at some point, making structural or safety failures a real buyer risk.
These Escorts are running relatively light at a median of 62,826 miles for their age, yet averaging 2.77 failures per test suggests mechanical issues are widespread rather than wear-specific. Before committing to one, get a full pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, suspension, and bodywork—the high advisory count of 8.3 per vehicle points to multiple minor problems that add up to poor value.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1998 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.
- ⚠️ 22.3% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 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 (75%) | 89,646 | 64.2% | 2.75 |
| Diesel (25%) | 29,132 | 62% | 2.8 |
| LPG (0%) | 16 | 70.3% | 2.31 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 62.5% | 3 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 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.
Half of all 1998 Ford Escort vehicles fall between 47,597 and 75,013 miles.
1998 Ford Escort — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 387 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Ford Escort
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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40.5%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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38.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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29.6%
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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29.2%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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28.5%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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26.3%
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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25.8%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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25.7%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. 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.