Ford Dorchester Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Ford Dorchester car check
Is the Ford Dorchester reliable? We analysed 10,955 real MOT tests across 987 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Ford Dorchester? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Ford Dorchester is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Dorchester.
Ford Dorchester Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Ford Dorchester. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Ford Dorchester MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Ford Dorchester to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Ford Dorchester Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Ford Dorchester fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Ford Dorchester Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Ford Dorchester owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Ford Dorchester MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Dorchester year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 193 | 78.8% | 17,458 | 39,720 | 59,562 |
| 2014 | 391 | 80.3% | 26,832 | 45,181 | 67,634 |
| 2013 | 138 | 86.2% | 29,756 | 50,222 | 70,802 |
| 2012 | 160 | 66.3% | 51,614 | 75,361 | 90,921 |
| 2011 | 354 | 71.5% | 42,132 | 62,666 | 96,669 |
| 2010 | 451 | 74.1% | 40,157 | 58,711 | 79,102 |
| 2009 | 416 | 75.2% | 45,823 | 64,699 | 83,892 |
| 2008 | 616 | 73.2% | 44,812 | 62,540 | 83,904 |
| 2007 | 817 | 73.6% | 46,576 | 69,689 | 96,282 |
| 2006 | 775 | 72.1% | 54,101 | 75,244 | 97,437 |
| 2005 | 597 | 68.5% | 48,314 | 68,640 | 93,511 |
| 2004 | 618 | 70.7% | 43,144 | 62,542 | 92,564 |
| 2003 | 602 | 71.3% | 28,048 | 41,701 | 60,934 |
| 2002 | 278 | 73.7% | 46,676 | 59,056 | 79,390 |
| 2001 | 95 | 74.7% | 50,778 | 70,355 | 91,500 |
| 1999 | 311 | 78.5% | 40,120 | 51,473 | 64,643 |
| 1998 | 443 | 75.2% | 43,079 | 54,800 | 65,429 |
| 1997 | 425 | 77.2% | 38,714 | 53,214 | 68,059 |
| 1996 | 468 | 75.6% | 40,726 | 56,184 | 64,794 |
| 1995 | 339 | 76.7% | 43,110 | 53,529 | 65,150 |
How Long Does a Ford Dorchester Last?
Based on 987 Ford Dorchester vehicles on UK roads.
Ford Dorchester Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Ford Dorchester 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 Dorchester
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.2% MOT pass rate from 138 tests
65.0% MOT pass rate from 180 tests
The best year to buy a used Ford Dorchester is 2013, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.2% across 138 tests. The 1987 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Ford Dorchester Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Dorchester THIS CAR | 73.7% | 10,955 | 60,878 mi | 44 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 |
| Pulse Bt 49 QT-9D1 | 75.3% | 4,311 | 5,311 mi | 17 yrs |
Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Dorchester sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Ford Dorchester 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 DorchesterShould you buy a used Ford Dorchester?
The Ford Dorchester has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.7% across 10,955 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Ford Dorchester are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (349 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (236), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (192). 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 Dorchester owner drives around 2,676 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 Dorchester models stay on UK roads for around 44 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.