Ford Capri
From 4,377 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Capris fare better: 1987 models pass at 80.5% vs 85.7% for 1984.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, emissions levels exceed default limits, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, caused 129 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 129 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 116 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 101 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 93 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 92 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 91 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 88 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 71 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 57 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 56 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 35.5% of failures are serious: 24.2% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 11.3% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £98.
Ford Capri on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 56 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 4 newly registered, a net loss of 52. Now at 13.9% of its peak (73,599 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 4,186 | 6,042 | +1 | -0 | +39 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,171 | 6,018 | +0 | -0 | +60 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,504 | 6,625 | +2 | -0 | +43 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,477 | 6,609 | +1 | -56 | -55 |
| 2024 Q3 | 3,952 | 6,189 | +6 | -0 | +51 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,932 | 6,158 | +1 | -0 | +333 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,291 | 6,466 | +2 | -333 | -331 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,168 | 6,920 | +1 | -13 | -12 |
17 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capri Injection | Petrol | 991 | 29% |
| Capri Laser | Petrol | 524 | 15% |
| Capri | Petrol | 418 | 12% |
| Capri S | Petrol | 238 | 7% |
| Capri 280 | Petrol | 181 | 5% |
| Capri S 5Spd | Petrol | 165 | 5% |
| Capri Gl | Petrol | 130 | 4% |
| Capri 1600 Xl | Petrol | 121 | 4% |
| Capri Ls 4Spd | Petrol | 116 | 3% |
| Capri Ghia | Petrol | 80 | 2% |
| Capri Ghia Auto | Petrol | 74 | 2% |
| Capri L | Petrol | 73 | 2% |
| Capri Ii Ghia Auto | Petrol | 60 | 2% |
| Capri 3000 Gxl | Petrol | 59 | 2% |
| Capri Ii S | Petrol | 57 | 2% |
| Capri Gt | Petrol | 56 | 2% |
| Capri 1600 Gt | Petrol | 52 | 2% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 80.5% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1986 | 78.8% | emissions levels exceed default limits, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 1985 | 84% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1984 | 85.7% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
2 earlier years
| 1983 | 79.3% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1981 | 86.4% | emissions levels exceed default limits, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
Typical mileage
Half of all Capris tested had between 30,557 and 80,221 miles on the clock.
At 64,213 median miles, the Capri has 0.027 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Ford models
| Ford Fiesta | 72.9% |
| Ford Focus | 74.7% |
| Ford Transit | 70.4% |
| Ford Kuga | 82.2% |
| Ford Mondeo | 73.8% |
Common questions
What is the Ford Capri MOT pass rate?
The Ford Capri has a 82.7% MOT pass rate based on 4,377 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Capri?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Capri is a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, which caused 129 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
How many Ford Capris are on UK roads?
There are 4,186 Ford Capris currently licensed on UK roads, with 6,042 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Capri at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Capri is 64,213 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 30,557 and 80,221 miles.
Buying a used Capri?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 82.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £98 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.