Pass rate, every year
77.0% Around average
665 tests across 8 model years, 2005–2014.
−4.0 pts vs the national average
Ford Dorchester MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics
Best year to buy
2014 83.2%
The strongest of the 8 years on record. See the 2014 page →
Worst year to buy
2008 72.6%
10.6 points below the 2014 peak. See the 2008 page →
The Ford Dorchester MOT pass rate is 77.0%, −4.0 percentage points below the UK average. That is 665 DVSA MOT tests recorded between 2005 and 2014. This page lists the most common Ford Dorchester MOT failures by category, names the best and worst model years, and finishes with a pre-MOT checklist you can run at home.
Check your postcode
MOT pass rates are national — type your postcode to see how Ford Dorchester MOT pass rates does in your corner of the country.
Ford Dorchester MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average
The Ford Dorchester passed on its first attempt in 73.1%, and its overall record sits −4.0 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the Ford Dorchester in the 2023–2025 data: 665 tests across 8 model years (2005–2014). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.
| Measure | This model |
|---|---|
| Tests analysed | 665 |
| Overall pass rate | 77.0% |
| Passed on first attempt | 73.1% |
| Average mileage at test | 77,422 mi |
| Model years covered | 2005–2014 (8 years) |
| Versus UK national average | −4.0 pts below |
Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.
Most Common Ford Dorchester MOT Problems by Failure Category
Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the Ford Dorchester, the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.
| Inspection section | Share of failures |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 37% |
| Suspension | 22% |
| Brakes | 15% |
| Visibility | 10% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 8% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 4% |
| Tyres | 2% |
| Steering | 2% |
Shares are over the Ford Dorchester's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
Around 37% of the recorded Ford Dorchester failures fall in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (4.5%), "Position lamp not working" (1.8%), "Headlamp not working on dipped beam" (1.8%) among the Ford Dorchester's lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment faults.
Suspension
Around 22% of the recorded Ford Dorchester failures fall in the Suspension section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (2.7%), "Ball joint excessively worn" (1.4%), "Shock absorbers has a serious fluid leak" (1.1%) among the Ford Dorchester's suspension faults.
Brakes
Around 15% of the recorded Ford Dorchester failures fall in the Brakes section of the MOT inspection manual. Testers recorded "Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements" (1.1%), "Rigid brake pipes excessively corroded" (0.9%), "Lever has excessive movement indicating incorrect adjustment" (0.6%) among the Ford Dorchester's brakes faults.
Top Recorded Ford Dorchester DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions
The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the Ford Dorchester, each with how many of the model's 665 tests it was noted on.
- "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 30 Ford Dorchester tests, 4.5% of the model's MOT record.
- "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (Major) — noted on about 18 Ford Dorchester tests, 2.7% of the model's MOT record.
- "Position lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 12 Ford Dorchester tests, 1.8% of the model's MOT record.
- "Headlamp not working on dipped beam" (Major) — noted on about 12 Ford Dorchester tests, 1.8% of the model's MOT record.
- "Rear fog lamp not working" (Major) — noted on about 12 Ford Dorchester tests, 1.8% of the model's MOT record.
- "Ball joint excessively worn" (Major) — noted on about 9 Ford Dorchester tests, 1.4% of the model's MOT record.
Best and Worst Ford Dorchester Model Years by Pass Rate
The strongest Ford Dorchester model year on record is 2014 (83.2% across 101 tests), and the weakest is 2008 (72.6%). The gap between them is 10.6 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.
Ford Dorchester reliability is improving in the DVSA data — the pass rate moves about 1.6 points a year across the most recent model years shown above.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Dorchester | 101 | 83.2% |
| 2011 Dorchester | 66 | 77.3% |
| 2010 Dorchester | 89 | 77.5% |
| 2009 Dorchester | 69 | 76.8% |
| 2008 Dorchester | 95 | 72.6% |
| 2007 Dorchester | 103 | 74.8% |
| 2006 Dorchester | 88 | 77.3% |
| 2005 Dorchester | 54 | 75.9% |
Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.
Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for Ford Dorchester Owners
These checks follow this Ford Dorchester's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a Ford Dorchester.
-
the lights — “registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources”
Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.
-
corrosion — “component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength”
Look under the sills, around the jacking points and where the suspension mounts meet the body. Flaking, holed or crumbly metal fails; a brown stain on sound metal does not.
-
the suspension joints — “ball joint excessively worn”
With the car parked on level ground, rock the top of each front wheel in and out while someone watches the suspension arm. Clunks, or rubber boots split and greasy, are what testers record here.
Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the Ford Dorchester. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions: Ford Dorchester MOT & Reliability
What is the Ford Dorchester MOT pass rate?
77.0% of the 665 recorded Ford Dorchester MOT tests ended in a pass, −4.0 percentage points below the national average. 73.1% of those passed on the first attempt.
Which Ford Dorchester model years pass the MOT most often?
2014 is the strongest Ford Dorchester year on record at 83.2%, while 2008 is the weakest at 72.6%. The year-by-year table below lists every model year with at least 50 recorded tests.
What are the most common Ford Dorchester MOT failures?
The most recorded Ford Dorchester failures are "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" and "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" — together around 7% of tests, mostly in the Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment section.