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Ford Sapphire (1989)

100 real MOT outcomes analysed • 67.5% first-time pass rate

1989 Ford Sapphire

CarHunch analysed 100 real MOT records for the 1989 Ford Sapphire. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 12.5% below UK average
67.5%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
50,236
typical mileage
33,181–76,006 middle half
12%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.43
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Ford Sapphire

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 Sapphire

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

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying →

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (97%) 97 67.2% 1.45
Diesel (3%) 3 76.7% 0.67

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Ford Sapphire 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.

33,181
low mileage
50,236
typical
76,006
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Ford Sapphire vehicles fall between 33,181 and 76,006 miles.

MOT History Averages

4.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.43
Avg failures per vehicle
3.9
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Ford Sapphire

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

  • 25.5%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 23.6%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 20.8%
    Oil leak
  • 16.2%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 14.3%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 13.9%
    Fuel pipe/s corroded
  • 12.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 12%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Ford Sapphire?

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

UK

Other model years — Ford Sapphire:

1990