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B197 DRS

1985 Ford Escort

White Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires21 Jul 2026
Tests7 (6 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate85.7%

Mileage

72,246 mi
Last recorded72,246 miles
Recorded on22 Jul 2025
Typical for 1985 Ford Escort52,350 mi

Above average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationB197 DRS
MakeFord
ModelEscort
Year1985
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,597cc

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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

6 pass 1 fail
Pass 22 Jul 2025 72,246 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2024 72,208 miles
Pass 20 Nov 2020 71,664 miles
Fail 11 Nov 2020 71,664 miles

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 21 Jan 2016 70,493 miles

Offside Front Inner Front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.5.C.1a)

Pass 20 Jan 2015 68,913 miles
Pass 3 Jun 2013 67,076 miles

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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B197 DRS is a 1985 Ford Escort in White with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 7 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 85.7%.

Across all 1985 Ford Escort models, the average MOT pass rate is 73.8% with a typical mileage of 52,350 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

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 B197 DRS, 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 41 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 B197 DRS?

You can check the full history of B197 DRS by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B197 DRS registered?

B197 DRS is a 1985 Ford Escort, first registered on 19 June 1985.

Is B197 DRS safe to buy?

The MOT history for B197 DRS shows 7 tests with a 85.7% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B197 DRS 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 B197 DRS. 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.