Ford Escort (1999)
1999 Ford Escort
CarHunch analysed 44,984 real MOT records for the 1999 Ford Escort. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1999 Ford Escort is well below the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 64.7% against the national 80%—and worse, nearly one in four (22.5%) have suffered a dangerous defect during their MOT history, making this a genuine safety concern for buyers. Petrol versions perform slightly better at 66.1% than diesels at 63.1%, but both are unreliable by modern standards.
These cars are averaging 61,806 miles for their age, which is reasonable, yet they're racking up 3.15 failures and 10 advisories per vehicle on test—a sign that age and wear are catching up hard. Before buying any 1999 Escort, get a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, steering, and braking components, since the dangerous defect rate suggests these systems are the real weak spots.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1999 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.
- ⚠️ 22.5% 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 (53%) | 24,022 | 66.1% | 3.02 |
| Diesel (47%) | 20,949 | 63.1% | 3.3 |
| LPG (0%) | 11 | 67.5% | 2.73 |
| Electric (0%) | 2 | 53.6% | 2 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1999 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 1999 Ford Escort vehicles fall between 49,530 and 73,605 miles.
1999 Ford Escort — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 301 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1999 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 1999. 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.