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Ford Crown Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Ford Crown reliable? We analysed 1,969 real MOT tests across 246 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,969 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.2%
Typical Mileage
104,738mi
Annual Mileage
1,177mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Ford Crown is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake recording little or no effort, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and headlamp aim too low. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Crown.

Ford Crown Number Plates

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

Ford Crown MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

81.4%
2011
91.9%
2010
89.7%
2009
82.9%
2008
86.3%
2007
79.9%
2006
85.7%
2005
78.6%
2004
76.9%
2003
88.2%
2002
77.6%
2001
75%
1999
74.6%
1998
66.3%
1995
70.5%
1994

Ford Crown Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

parking brake recording little or no effort 36
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 31
Headlamp aim too low 29
fog lamp missing 28
Direction indicator incorrect colour 25
fog lamp not working 25
Side repeater missing 21
position lamp(s) incorrect colour 21

Ford Crown Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
437 mi/yr
Typical
1,177 mi/yr
Average
2,379 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,748 mi/yr

Ford Crown MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 140 81.4% 105,914 147,448 171,471
2010 74 91.9% 92,630 98,036 131,626
2009 87 89.7% 106,010 119,860 127,876
2008 117 82.9% 94,220 111,757 138,016
2007 117 86.3% 101,941 131,981 146,901
2006 149 79.9% 74,109 98,176 133,013
2005 77 85.7% 104,817 129,754 138,181
2004 70 78.6% 47,759 128,032 226,009
2003 121 76.9% 86,276 116,521 220,660
2002 127 88.2% 65,338 85,871 152,798
2001 245 77.6% 51,179 84,227 140,824
1999 96 75.0% 53,333 101,060 122,229
1998 71 74.6% 75,840 91,028 96,138
1995 83 66.3% 55,305 113,529 126,828
1994 61 70.5% 36,722 102,371 123,112

How Long Does a Ford Crown Last?

Based on 246 Ford Crown vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.8 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Ford Crown Mileage Distribution

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

Median
104,738 mi
75th Percentile
139,416 mi
95th Percentile
225,906 mi
Max Recorded
933,998 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Crown

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

Best year
2010

91.9% MOT pass rate from 74 tests

Year to avoid
1995

66.3% MOT pass rate from 83 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Crown is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.9% across 74 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Crown Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Crown THIS CAR 80.2% 1,969 104,738 mi 32 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 Cbf 125 Na-m 86.8% 2,393 7,052 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Ford Crown?

The Ford Crown has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.2% across 1,969 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 Crown are parking brake recording little or no effort (36 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (31), and headlamp aim too low (29). 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 Crown owner drives around 1,177 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 Crown models stay on UK roads for around 32 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 Crown — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Crown reliable?
Based on 1,969 MOT tests, the Ford Crown has a 80.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ford Crown?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake recording little or no effort, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and headlamp aim too low. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Crown do per year?
The typical Ford Crown does around 1,177 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Crown last?
Most Ford Crown models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 246 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Crown?
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 Crown?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Crown is 2010 with a 91.9% pass rate across 74 tests.