Ford Dorchester
From 732 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 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 and vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced. The top issue, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, caused 24 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 24 |
| 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 | 17 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 16 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 14 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 12 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 12 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 11 |
| a brake hose ferrule excessively corroded | 11 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 11 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 10 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 23.9% of Dorchester failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 41.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £163.
Ford Dorchester on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 28 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 28. At this rate, roughly 12.8 years until none remain. Now at 26.7% of its peak (1,345 in 1996 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 161 | 198 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2025 Q2 | 171 | 194 | +0 | -3 | -3 |
| 2025 Q1 | 178 | 190 | +0 | -10 | -10 |
| 2024 Q4 | 181 | 197 | +0 | -9 | -9 |
| 2024 Q3 | 184 | 203 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2024 Q2 | 186 | 205 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2024 Q1 | 193 | 202 | +0 | -10 | -10 |
| 2023 Q4 | 205 | 200 | +0 | -3 | -3 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 77.3% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a brake hose ferrule excessively corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all Dorchesters tested had between 55,142 and 87,759 miles on the clock.
At 71,287 median miles, the Dorchester has 0.034 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 Dorchester MOT pass rate?
The Ford Dorchester has a 75.8% MOT pass rate based on 732 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Dorchester?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Dorchester is brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, which caused 24 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many Ford Dorchesters are on UK roads?
There are 161 Ford Dorchesters currently licensed on UK roads, with 198 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Dorchester at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Dorchester is 71,287 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 55,142 and 87,759 miles.
Buying a used Dorchester?
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 75.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £163 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.