Ford Consul Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Consul car check
Is the Ford Consul reliable? We analysed 7,272 real MOT tests across 1,112 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Consul? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Consul is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake binding and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Consul.
Ford Consul Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Consul. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Consul MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Consul to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Consul Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Consul fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Consul Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Consul owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Consul MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Consul year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 65 | 61.5% | 54,409 | 88,271 | 146,904 |
| 1999 | 62 | 64.5% | 72,233 | 83,634 | 140,660 |
| 1984 | 95 | 86.3% | 51,754 | 60,611 | 66,264 |
| 1981 | 60 | 81.7% | 16,774 | 52,606 | 75,792 |
| 1975 | 88 | 76.1% | 30,568 | 38,500 | 57,201 |
| 1974 | 70 | 88.6% | 35,777 | 64,624 | 77,726 |
| 1973 | 165 | 82.4% | 34,439 | 63,140 | 79,381 |
| 1972 | 206 | 83.0% | 17,782 | 49,045 | 60,533 |
| 1964 | 105 | 87.6% | 4,119 | 33,611 | 52,771 |
| 1963 | 264 | 83.7% | 45,943 | 60,219 | 82,582 |
| 1962 | 736 | 87.2% | 18,963 | 50,350 | 70,718 |
| 1961 | 1,969 | 83.0% | 22,358 | 52,367 | 78,908 |
| 1960 | 1,098 | 83.2% | 24,773 | 51,317 | 76,108 |
| 1959 | 565 | 81.6% | 31,182 | 60,686 | 81,706 |
| 1958 | 187 | 86.6% | 27,781 | 50,892 | 79,484 |
| 1957 | 105 | 86.7% | 20,426 | 52,357 | 77,153 |
| 1956 | 234 | 85.0% | 29,195 | 49,907 | 64,442 |
| 1955 | 423 | 88.4% | 30,088 | 52,874 | 79,206 |
| 1954 | 166 | 83.7% | 45,190 | 62,838 | 80,638 |
| 1953 | 69 | 89.9% | 12,079 | 62,377 | 87,995 |
How Long Does a Ford Consul Last?
Based on 1,112 Ford Consul vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Consul Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Consul 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 Consul
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.9% MOT pass rate from 69 tests
61.5% MOT pass rate from 65 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Consul is 1953, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.9% across 69 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Consul Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Consul THIS CAR | 83.8% | 7,272 | 54,689 mi | 72 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 |
| Piaggio Ape | 81% | 2,219 | 2,760 mi | 27 yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Consul outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Consul 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 ConsulShould you buy a used Ford Consul?
The Ford Consul has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.8% across 7,272 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 Consul are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (300 recorded failures), brake binding (207), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (183). 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 Consul owner drives around 353 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 Consul models stay on UK roads for around 72 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.