Ford Scorpio (1991)
1991 Ford Scorpio
CarHunch analysed 547 real MOT records for the 1991 Ford Scorpio. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1991 Ford Scorpio is a genuinely unreliable proposition by modern standards—only 28.1% pass their MOT first time, less than a third of the 80% UK average. With 5.3% of these cars having experienced a dangerous defect, you're looking at a vehicle that poses real safety risks and demands serious mechanical scrutiny before purchase.
These Scorpios are running at around 127,500 miles on average, which is exactly what you'd expect for a 33-year-old car, but the 0.55 failures and 1.5 advisories per vehicle reveal consistent wear across multiple systems rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, get a full pre-purchase inspection from a Ford specialist and budget for immediate repairs—the first-time pass rate tells you these cars almost always need work to meet safety standards.
What to check before buying a 1991 Ford Scorpio
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 Scorpio
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 (99%) | 540 | 28.2% | 0.55 |
| Diesel (1%) | 6 | 25.9% | 0.67 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1991 Ford Scorpio 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 1991 Ford Scorpio vehicles fall between 104,789 and 151,117 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1991 Ford Scorpio
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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35.5%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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18.6%
Oil leak
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15.5%
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
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14.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.5%
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
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13%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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12.7%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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12.1%
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Ford Scorpio?
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