CarVerify

Ford Anglia Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Anglia car check

Is the Ford Anglia reliable? We analysed 17,256 real MOT tests across 2,716 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Ford Anglia? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 17,256 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
84.7%
Typical Mileage
54,295mi
Annual Mileage
319mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
73yrs

The Ford Anglia is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Anglia.

Ford Anglia Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ford Anglia. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ford Anglia MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ford Anglia to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

96.1%
1986
80.6%
1984
75%
1971
85.4%
1968
84.2%
1967
83.2%
1966
83.5%
1965
83.9%
1964
83.7%
1963
85.1%
1962
85.3%
1961
84.7%
1960
83.9%
1959
85.2%
1958
80.1%
1957
80.3%
1956
89.2%
1955
93.3%
1953
92.7%
1952
92.5%
1951

Ford Anglia Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ford Anglia fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 524
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 495
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 430
brake binding 402
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 334
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 287
brake recording little or no effort 250
parking brake recording little or no effort 219
Stop lamp not working 177
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 159

Ford Anglia Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ford Anglia owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
100 mi/yr
Typical
319 mi/yr
Average
1,096 mi/yr
Heavy usage
815 mi/yr

Ford Anglia MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Anglia year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1986 51 96.1% 17,461 55,234 57,942
1984 98 80.6% 40,412 52,128 71,523
1971 56 75.0% 66,584 67,631 76,601
1968 845 85.4% 38,423 61,829 76,906
1967 2,555 84.2% 39,022 61,524 79,530
1966 2,384 83.2% 31,183 55,696 72,304
1965 1,793 83.5% 33,439 53,680 72,114
1964 1,891 83.9% 29,338 55,243 70,776
1963 804 83.7% 33,632 57,848 72,015
1962 968 85.1% 31,407 51,650 71,434
1961 1,418 85.3% 30,676 55,442 72,312
1960 1,198 84.7% 19,301 47,808 71,890
1959 663 83.9% 31,369 54,588 74,423
1958 507 85.2% 20,716 53,018 73,517
1957 161 80.1% 22,269 53,120 71,473
1956 173 80.3% 28,390 59,214 81,818
1955 139 89.2% 10,134 23,199 38,665
1953 433 93.3% 7,964 33,998 62,842
1952 109 92.7% 12,984 51,660 67,312
1951 53 92.5% 5,875 35,076 45,636

How Long Does a Ford Anglia Last?

Based on 2,716 Ford Anglia vehicles on UK roads.

Average
50.9 years
Median
52.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
73 years

Ford Anglia Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ford Anglia MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
54,295 mi
75th Percentile
72,591 mi
95th Percentile
92,315 mi
Max Recorded
977,394 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Anglia

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1986

96.1% MOT pass rate from 51 tests

Year to avoid
1971

75.0% MOT pass rate from 56 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Anglia is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.1% across 51 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Anglia Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Anglia THIS CAR 84.7% 17,256 54,295 mi 73 yrs
Ford Fiesta 72.8% 33,753,820 57,529 mi 34 yrs
Ford Focus 73.8% 28,316,889 72,500 mi 27 yrs
Ford Transit 68.7% 16,371,688 100,614 mi 37 yrs
Audi Q3 S Line 40 TFSI QUATTRO S-a 93.8% 7,923 27,565 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Anglia outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Ford Anglia you like?

Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.

Check a specific Ford Anglia

Should you buy a used Ford Anglia?

The Ford Anglia has an overall MOT pass rate of 84.7% across 17,256 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Ford Anglia are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (524 recorded failures), suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (495), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (430). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ford Anglia owner drives around 319 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ford Anglia models stay on UK roads for around 73 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ford Anglia — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Anglia reliable?
Based on 17,256 MOT tests, the Ford Anglia has a 84.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford Anglia?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Anglia do per year?
The typical Ford Anglia does around 319 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Anglia last?
Most Ford Anglia models stay on UK roads for around 73 years based on our analysis of 2,716 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Anglia?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ford Anglia?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Anglia is 1986 with a 96.1% pass rate across 51 tests.