Does the Ford Cortina fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Ford Cortina records 13.13 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 29.21 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−16.08, 95% interval −17.47 to −14.69). It ranks 683 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a Ford Cortina by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford Cortina is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 114 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 114 | 1.96 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 100 | 1.72 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 69 | 1.19 |
| A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 65 | 1.12 |
| Audible warning inoperative | 57 | 0.98 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,818 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Ford Cortina by postcode area · Ford Cortina body, chassis and structure failures · Ford Cortina brakes failures · Ford Cortina noise, emissions and leaks failures · Ford Cortina seat belts and airbags failures · Ford Cortina steering failures · Ford Cortina suspension failures · Ford Cortina tyres failures · Ford Cortina visibility failures