Ford Cortina MOT Check

MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Ford Cortina. Check any Cortina by registration number below.

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89.3%

Avg Pass Rate

+4.2%

vs Ford Avg

Year Ranges

Excellent

Reliability

Ford Cortina — MOT Reliability Overview

The Ford Cortina has an average MOT pass rate of 89.3%, which is 4.2 percentage points above the Ford brand average of 85.1%. This is a strong result, indicating that the Cortina is well-engineered and tends to age well mechanically. Owners can expect fewer surprises at MOT time.

Before buying a used Ford Cortina, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.

MOT Pass Rate by Year

How the Ford Cortina performs at MOT across different model years.

1983

Based on 71 vehicles

77.5%Good

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

25.7%

1982

Based on 280 vehicles

86.4%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

1.7%

Retest Rate

12.4%

1981

Based on 104 vehicles

88.5%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

1.5%

Retest Rate

6.1%

1980

Based on 56 vehicles

83.9%Good

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

8.1%

1979

Based on 52 vehicles

82.7%Good

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

7.1%

1976

Based on 51 vehicles

94.1%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

5.4%

1975

Based on 49 vehicles

93.9%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

5.7%

1974

Based on 37 vehicles

94.6%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

1973

Based on 53 vehicles

94.3%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

3.2%

1972

Based on 82 vehicles

96.3%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Dangerous Defects

0.0%

Retest Rate

2.1%

0

Based on 807 vehicles

90.2%Excellent

Ford average: 85.1%

Mileage at 5yr

47k mi

Where Failures Occur

The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.

Nearside

9.9%

Rear Nearside

5.6%

Offside

4.2%

Other Ford Models

Compare MOT reliability across Ford models.

Ford Grand Tourneo Connect

75.7% pass rate

Ford Puma St-line

95.4% pass rate

Ford Tourneo Connect

89.9% pass rate

Ford Focus Active Edition Mhev

93.1% pass rate

Ford Mondeo

67.1% pass rate

Ford Focus C - Max

96.1% pass rate

Useful MOT Guides

Common MOT Failures

The most common reasons UK vehicles fail their MOT — and how to prepare.

MOT Checklist

Pre-MOT checklist to improve your chances of passing first time.

Advisory vs Failure

Understanding the difference between MOT advisories and failures.

See detailed fault analysis for Ford Cortina

Ford Cortina — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Ford Cortina MOT and reliability.

What is the MOT pass rate for the Ford Cortina?

The average MOT pass rate for the Ford Cortina is 89.3% compared to the Ford average of 85.1%. Pass rates vary by year — check the year-by-year breakdown on this page for details.

What are the most common MOT failures on a Ford Cortina?

Check the detailed breakdown on this page for specific failure data by year range.

Is the Ford Cortina reliable?

With an average MOT pass rate of 89.3%, the Ford Cortina is rated as "Excellent" for reliability. This is a strong result suggesting good build quality and fewer common defects.

How do I check the MOT history of a Ford Cortina?

Enter the vehicle's registration number in the search box at the top of this page. You will instantly see the complete MOT history including every test result, mileage readings, advisories, and dangerous defects — completely free.

What mileage should I expect on a Ford Cortina?

Typical mileage for the Ford Cortina: 47,348 miles at 5 years. Use these benchmarks when evaluating a used Cortina to spot vehicles with unusually high or low mileage.

Check Your Ford Cortina's MOT History

Enter the registration number for the full MOT history — free and instant.