Ford Capri Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Capri car check
Is the Ford Capri reliable? We analysed 101,843 real MOT tests across 11,827 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Capri? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Capri is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake binding, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Capri.
Ford Capri Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Capri. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Capri MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Capri to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Capri Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Capri fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Capri Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Capri owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Capri MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Capri year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 68 | 75.0% | 56,596 | 62,699 | 100,652 |
| 1990 | 93 | 73.1% | 50,061 | 84,756 | 193,742 |
| 1988 | 937 | 83.7% | 32,406 | 60,134 | 81,545 |
| 1987 | 15,526 | 77.2% | 26,868 | 55,478 | 77,488 |
| 1986 | 18,100 | 72.3% | 23,907 | 50,647 | 76,928 |
| 1985 | 10,979 | 73.3% | 25,304 | 56,904 | 80,022 |
| 1984 | 13,618 | 72.6% | 20,658 | 50,971 | 78,501 |
| 1983 | 10,525 | 73.5% | 26,744 | 55,621 | 79,012 |
| 1982 | 4,717 | 72.7% | 26,314 | 54,714 | 77,483 |
| 1981 | 4,125 | 75.4% | 23,814 | 56,561 | 79,600 |
| 1980 | 2,671 | 76.0% | 33,686 | 59,462 | 78,472 |
| 1979 | 3,518 | 74.3% | 26,509 | 52,230 | 74,904 |
| 1978 | 1,607 | 76.9% | 25,810 | 53,846 | 71,871 |
| 1977 | 1,836 | 77.5% | 24,682 | 48,504 | 72,114 |
| 1976 | 726 | 79.2% | 21,534 | 50,720 | 72,416 |
| 1975 | 492 | 83.1% | 27,169 | 55,668 | 75,085 |
| 1974 | 1,574 | 80.6% | 24,004 | 51,658 | 73,230 |
| 1973 | 1,951 | 81.2% | 27,824 | 48,538 | 76,448 |
| 1972 | 2,578 | 79.8% | 25,091 | 52,817 | 73,071 |
| 1971 | 1,621 | 80.9% | 23,260 | 48,638 | 77,151 |
How Long Does a Ford Capri Last?
Based on 11,827 Ford Capri vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Capri Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Capri MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Capri
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
84.3% MOT pass rate from 413 tests
72.3% MOT pass rate from 18,100 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Capri is 1964, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.3% across 413 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Capri Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Capri THIS CAR | 75.0% | 101,843 | 53,452 mi | 57 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 |
| Subaru Outback | 78.2% | 130,193 | 78,217 mi | 23 yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Capri outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Capri 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 CapriShould you buy a used Ford Capri?
The Ford Capri has an overall MOT pass rate of 75.0% across 101,843 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 Capri are brake binding (4,143 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (4,055), and suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (3,852). 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 Capri owner drives around 507 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 Capri models stay on UK roads for around 57 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.