Ford P100
From 795 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, stop lamp missing and inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. The top issue, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, caused 34 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 | 34 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 30 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 27 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 21 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 20 |
| 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 | 20 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 20 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 19 |
| 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. | 18 |
| an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 18 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 22% of P100 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 25.1% 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 £139.
Ford P100 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 62 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 4 newly registered, a net loss of 58. At this rate, roughly 25.8 years until none remain. Now at 6.6% of its peak (20,245 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 203 | 1,141 | +0 | -0 | +6 |
| 2025 Q2 | 200 | 1,138 | +2 | -0 | +3 |
| 2025 Q1 | 187 | 1,148 | +1 | -19 | -18 |
| 2024 Q4 | 187 | 1,166 | +1 | -43 | -42 |
| 2024 Q3 | 199 | 1,196 | +0 | -13 | -13 |
| 2024 Q2 | 204 | 1,204 | +0 | -0 | +3 |
| 2024 Q1 | 198 | 1,207 | +0 | -9 | -9 |
| 2023 Q4 | 201 | 1,213 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| P100 | Diesel | 88 | 51% |
| P100 Turbo Diesel | Petrol | 83 | 49% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 74.8% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1992 | 77.3% | a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1991 | 78.6% | a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning |
| 1990 | 69.9% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
Typical mileage
Half of all P100s tested had between 26,290 and 76,779 miles on the clock.
At 48,660 median miles, the P100 has 0.055 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 P100 MOT pass rate?
The Ford P100 has a 73.1% MOT pass rate based on 795 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford P100?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford P100 is a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, which caused 34 failures. Other common issues include vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced.
How many Ford P100s are on UK roads?
There are 203 Ford P100s currently licensed on UK roads, with 1,141 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford P100 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford P100 is 48,660 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 26,290 and 76,779 miles.
Buying a used P100?
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 73.1% pass rate and an average repair bill of £139 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.