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ALH 985S

1978 Ford Escort

Blue Petrol 2000cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires22 Sep 2026
Tests19 (16 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate84.2%

Mileage

94,096 mi
Last recorded94,096 miles
Recorded on1 Sep 2025
Typical for 1978 Ford Escort49,614 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Ford
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationALH 985S
MakeFord
ModelEscort
Year1978
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,000cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

16 pass 3 fail
Pass 1 Sep 2025 94,096 miles
Pass 27 Aug 2024 91,022 miles

Front Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing *All Four Tyres* (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 23 Sep 2023 89,587 miles
Fail 23 Sep 2023 89,587 miles

Headlamp aim too low both (4.1.2 (a))

Pass 11 May 2021 88,111 miles
Pass 26 Mar 2020 88,034 miles
Pass 13 Oct 2018 87,457 miles
Pass 4 Aug 2017 86,574 miles

Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Front Steering rack gaiter deteriorated (2.2.D.2d)

Pass 3 Aug 2016 84,638 miles
Fail 5 May 2016 84,590 miles

Horn not working (1.6.2a)

Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded inner sill (5.2.6)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Offside Rear Brake hose twisted (3.6.B.4c)

Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded inner sill (5.2.6)

fuel pressure regulator rubber pipe slightly deteriorated.

some corrossion on rear chassis

Pass 24 Feb 2015 82,515 miles
Pass 12 Feb 2014 78,049 miles
Pass 16 Feb 2013 77,853 miles
Pass 17 Mar 2012 77,853 miles
Pass 12 Mar 2011 77,080 miles
Pass 21 Sep 2009 74,494 miles
Fail 12 Sep 2009 74,489 miles

Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

both front floorpans corroding

nearside rear anti tramp bar splitting from floor

offside inner sill corroding

Pass 29 May 2008 73,539 miles

front floor pans starting to corrode

outer sills starting to corrode

Pass 25 Jun 2007 73,165 miles

Nearside Rear Lower Leaf spring has a slightly deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.B.2)

Offside Rear Lower Leaf spring has a slightly deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.B.2)

offside rear brake slightly binding

How Reliable is the Ford Escort?

Based on 4,961,191 MOT tests across 821,553 vehicles.

63.1%
Pass Rate
4,830
Miles/Year
38
Year Lifespan
821,553
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 465,333
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 447,459
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 433,778
Brake pipe excessively corroded 419,450
constant velocity joint gaiter split 203,602
Full Ford Escort reliability report

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ALH 985S is a 1978 Ford Escort in Blue with a 2,000cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 19 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 84.2%.

Across all 1978 Ford Escort models, the average MOT pass rate is 85.0% with a typical mileage of 49,614 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Ford Escort fails its MOT is suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 465,333 recorded failures. If you're considering buying ALH 985S, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Escort typically stays on UK roads for around 38 years. At 48 years old, this Ford Escort is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of ALH 985S?

You can check the full history of ALH 985S by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was ALH 985S registered?

ALH 985S is a 1978 Ford Escort, first registered on 5 May 1978.

Is ALH 985S safe to buy?

The MOT history for ALH 985S shows 19 tests with a 84.2% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does ALH 985S have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on ALH 985S. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.