Ford Fiesta (1996)
1996 Ford Fiesta
CarHunch analysed 116,556 real MOT records for the 1996 Ford Fiesta. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1996 Ford Fiesta is struggling: just 61.2% pass their MOT first time, well below the UK average of 80%, and one in five have recorded dangerous defects—a material concern for a nearly 30-year-old car. Both petrol and diesel versions perform similarly poorly (61.5% and 59.0% respectively), so fuel type won't save you.
These Fiestas are running at typical mileage for their age (median 62,500 miles), yet averaging 2.74 failures and 8.6 advisories per test tells you rust, wear and ageing are catching up hard. Before buying, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist and expect routine repair bills; this is a car where preventative maintenance matters far more than luck.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1996 Ford Fiesta
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.
- ⚠️ 20.8% 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 Fiesta
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 (87%) | 100,915 | 61.5% | 2.81 |
| Diesel (13%) | 15,634 | 59% | 2.27 |
| Electric (0%) | 4 | 55.3% | 3.75 |
| LPG (0%) | 3 | 53% | 4.67 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1996 Ford Fiesta 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 1996 Ford Fiesta vehicles fall between 47,108 and 75,114 miles.
1996 Ford Fiesta — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 474 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% 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 — 1996 Ford Fiesta
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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39.3%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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32%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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31.1%
Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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30.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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29.7%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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27.9%
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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25.3%
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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24.3%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Fiesta?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.