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Ford Corsair Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Corsair car check

Is the Ford Corsair reliable? We analysed 3,387 real MOT tests across 455 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 3,387 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
81.2%
Typical Mileage
55,349mi
Annual Mileage
385mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
62yrs

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

Ford Corsair Number Plates

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

Ford Corsair MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

82.7%
1970
79.8%
1969
80%
1968
84%
1967
78.7%
1966
80.7%
1965
82.5%
1964

Ford Corsair Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 112
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 99
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 81
brake binding 74
parking brake recording little or no effort 63
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 51
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 50
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 48
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 45
position lamp(s) not working 44

Ford Corsair Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
106 mi/yr
Typical
385 mi/yr
Average
1,157 mi/yr
Heavy usage
880 mi/yr

Ford Corsair MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1970 249 82.7% 33,140 59,039 73,614
1969 263 79.8% 15,441 43,798 64,637
1968 585 80.0% 24,322 53,952 77,173
1967 645 84.0% 39,484 57,252 80,600
1966 656 78.7% 38,239 60,436 75,732
1965 498 80.7% 17,302 42,611 70,527
1964 309 82.5% 29,208 55,970 76,634

How Long Does a Ford Corsair Last?

Based on 455 Ford Corsair vehicles on UK roads.

Average
47.5 years
Median
49.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
62 years

Ford Corsair Mileage Distribution

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

Median
55,349 mi
75th Percentile
75,850 mi
95th Percentile
96,160 mi
Max Recorded
928,065 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Corsair

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

Best year
1967

84.0% MOT pass rate from 645 tests

Year to avoid
1966

78.7% MOT pass rate from 656 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Corsair is 1967, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.0% across 645 tests. The 1966 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Corsair Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Corsair THIS CAR 81.2% 3,387 55,349 mi 62 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
Honda Xlr 125 74% 2,964 14,891 mi 29 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Ford Corsair?

The Ford Corsair has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.2% across 3,387 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 Corsair are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (112 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (99), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (81). 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 Corsair owner drives around 385 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 Corsair models stay on UK roads for around 62 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 Corsair — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Corsair reliable?
Based on 3,387 MOT tests, the Ford Corsair has a 81.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford Corsair?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Corsair do per year?
The typical Ford Corsair does around 385 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Corsair last?
Most Ford Corsair models stay on UK roads for around 62 years based on our analysis of 455 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Corsair?
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 Corsair?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Corsair is 1967 with a 84.0% pass rate across 645 tests.