Ford Orion (1991)

3,250 real MOT outcomes analysed • 58.7% first-time pass rate

1991 Ford Orion

CarHunch analysed 3,250 real MOT records for the 1991 Ford Orion. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 21.3% below UK average
58.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
55,227
typical mileage
24,547–79,629 middle half
8.3%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.23
avg MOT failures per car
over 3.1 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1991 Ford Orion

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 Orion

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 (94%) 3,054 58.7% 1.24
Diesel (6%) 195 58.4% 1.08
LPG (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Ford Orion 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.

24,547
low mileage
55,227
typical
79,629
high mileage

Half of all 1991 Ford Orion vehicles fall between 24,547 and 79,629 miles.

1991 Ford Orion — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 16 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (25% of peak).

64 16 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

3.1
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.23
Avg failures per vehicle
2.5
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1991 Ford Orion

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

  • 24.9%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 23.7%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 15.9%
    Oil leak
  • 13.5%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 12%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 11.1%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 10.4%
    Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 10.3%
    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 Orion?

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

UK

Other model years — Ford Orion:

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1992 1993 1994