Does the Ford Escort fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The Ford Escort records 19.44 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 31.91 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−12.47, 95% interval −12.87 to −12.08). It ranks 647 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 Escort by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the Ford Escort is “The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements”, recorded 2,145 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 | 2,145 | 2.78 |
| A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 1,340 | 1.73 |
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 1,133 | 1.47 |
| Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 920 | 1.19 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 895 | 1.16 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 77,294 (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
If a Ford Escort gets a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory, how often does it fail next time?
20.8% of Ford Escort MOTs with a lamps, reflectors and electrics advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 1,058 miles later (775 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 775 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
Ford Escort 1998 · Ford Escort 1999 · Ford Escort 2000 · Ford Escort 2001 · Ford Escort 2002 · Ford Escort in the Netherlands · Ford Escort by postcode area · Ford Escort body, chassis and structure failures · Ford Escort brakes failures · Ford Escort vehicle identification failures · Ford Escort noise, emissions and leaks failures · Ford Escort road wheels failures · Ford Escort seat belts and airbags failures · Ford Escort steering failures · Ford Escort suspension failures · Ford Escort tyres failures · Ford Escort visibility failures