Used car guide

1996 Ford Escort: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1996 Ford Escorts, from 546 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

546MOT tests in 2025
70%pass first time (all 1996 cars: 67%)
2,000typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1996 Ford Escorts than on all cars registered in 1996.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
    Ford Escort
    10.6% All 1996 cars
    4.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4%, against 1.6% of all 1996 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 7.7% here, against 18.7% of all 1996 cars.

By area

The share of 1996 Ford Escort MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    29% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    29% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Rust and bodywork
    16% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

  • Tyres
    16% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Ford Escort?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2002237Suspension 41%
2001319Suspension 40%
2000377Suspension 41%
1999185Suspension 39%
1998398Brakes 34%
1997494Brakes 32%
1995422Brakes 24%
1994313Brakes 23%
1993357Suspension 13%
1992279Brakes 16%
1991252Lights and electrics 21%
1990913Lights and electrics 19%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1996 Ford Escorts registered in 1996. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score