Ford Sierra
From 5,889 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Sierras fare better: 1993 models pass at 83.3% vs 91% for 1987.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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, emissions levels exceed default limits and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, 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, caused 159 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 159 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 143 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 71 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 64 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 55 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 54 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 40 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 37 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 36 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 35 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 35.9% of Sierra failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 15% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £170.
Ford Sierra on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 208 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 14 newly registered, a net loss of 194. At this rate, roughly 76.4 years until none remain. Now at 1.2% of its peak (1,061,249 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,211 | 10,007 | +4 | -0 | +19 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,271 | 9,928 | +5 | -0 | +25 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,615 | 10,559 | +4 | -34 | -30 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,612 | 10,592 | +1 | -174 | -173 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,141 | 10,236 | +6 | -0 | +64 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,171 | 10,142 | +3 | -0 | +237 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,621 | 10,455 | +2 | -336 | -334 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,592 | 10,818 | +8 | -77 | -69 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Rs Cosworth | Petrol | 669 | 42% |
| Sierra Sapphire Cosworth | Diesel | 354 | 22% |
| Sierra Xr4 I | Petrol | 248 | 16% |
| Sierra Xr4X4 I | Petrol | 124 | 8% |
| Sierra L | Petrol | 85 | 5% |
| Sierra Gl | Diesel | 61 | 4% |
| Sierra Lx | Petrol | 52 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 83.3% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1992 | 81.5% | 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, emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits |
| 1991 | 88.3% | 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, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1990 | 85.6% | 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 |
7 earlier years
| 1989 | 83.1% | 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, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 1988 | 85.3% | emissions levels exceed default limits, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 1987 | 91% | emissions levels exceed default limits, 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 |
| 1986 | 95.1% | vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened |
| 1985 | 72% | emissions levels exceed default limits, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1984 | 94.7% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, emissions levels exceed default limits |
| 1983 | 90.6% | body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point, a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded |
Typical mileage
Half of all Sierras tested had between 31,349 and 78,663 miles on the clock.
At 64,432 median miles, the Sierra has 0.02 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 Sierra MOT pass rate?
The Ford Sierra has a 86.8% MOT pass rate based on 5,889 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Ford Sierra?
The most common MOT failure on the Ford Sierra is 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, which caused 159 failures. Other common issues include emissions levels exceed default limits.
How many Ford Sierras are on UK roads?
There are 2,211 Ford Sierras currently licensed on UK roads, with 10,007 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Ford Sierra at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Ford Sierra is 64,432 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 31,349 and 78,663 miles.
Buying a used Sierra?
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.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.