Used car guide

1997 Ford Escort petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Ford Escort first registered in 1997 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 1,494 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,494MOTs of 1997 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
62%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 65%)
2,200typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for exhaust emissions (catalyst)

What goes wrong more than usual on a 1997 Ford Escort petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 1997 Ford Escort petrol than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.6× usual
    Ford Escort
    11.8% All 1997 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11.6%, against 4.4% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for an engine warning light.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.4× usual
    Ford Escort
    11% All 1997 cars
    4.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5%, against 1.9% of all 1997 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.

  • Brakes pulling to one side2.3× usual
    Ford Escort
    5.9% All 1997 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.4%, against 2% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Rust in key structural areas1.9× usual
    Ford Escort
    5% All 1997 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3%, against 1.8% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£250 our estimate

    At the viewing: Pull each seatbelt sharply. It should lock, and retract cleanly.

Better than most

Brake pads: 1.9% here, against 4.2% of all 1997 cars. Track rod ends: 1.7% here, against 4% of all 1997 cars.

Common 1997 Ford Escort petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 1997 Ford Escort petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    37% 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.

  • Suspension
    32% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    24% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    22% 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
    19% 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 an engine warning light.

  • 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 1997 Ford Escort petrol

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the exhaust emissions (catalyst)? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 1997 Ford Escort petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 1997 Ford Escort petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the brakes pulling to one side? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the 1997 Ford Escort petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Ford Escort?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Ford Escort compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2026–Too new for MOT data
2002887Suspension 42%
20011,169Brakes 42%
20001,363Suspension 40%
1999642Suspension 41%
19981,312Brakes 34%
19961,744Brakes 31%
19951,312Brakes 25%
19941,008Brakes 22%
19931,041Brakes 15%
1992807Brakes 15%
1991773Brakes 19%
19902,698Lights and electrics 20%
1989–Too few tests
1988–Too few tests
1987–Too few tests
1986–Too few tests
1985–Too few tests
1984–Too few tests
1983–Too few tests
1982–Too few tests
1981–Too few tests
1980–Too few tests
1979–Too few tests
1978–Too few tests
1977–Too few tests
1976–Too few tests
1975–Too few tests
1974–Too few tests
1973–Too few tests
1972–Too few tests
1971–Too few tests
1970–Too few tests
1969–Too few tests
1968–Too few tests
1960–Too few tests
1959–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Ford Escort cars first registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score