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B397 RLK

1985 Ford Escort

White Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires8 Jul 2026
Tests4 (3 pass, 1 fail)
Pass rate75%

Mileage

97,160 mi
Last recorded97,160 miles
Recorded on9 Jul 2025
Typical for 1985 Ford Escort52,350 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationB397 RLK
MakeFord
ModelEscort
Year1985
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,597cc

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

3 pass 1 fail
Pass 9 Jul 2025 97,160 miles
Fail 16 Apr 2019 97,157 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material All rears and off side front (1.1.11 (c))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Underside painted in black stone chip

Pass 23 Apr 2016 96,890 miles
Pass 18 Aug 2005 96,881 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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B397 RLK is a 1985 Ford Escort in White with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 4 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 75%.

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 B397 RLK, 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 B397 RLK?

You can check the full history of B397 RLK by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was B397 RLK registered?

B397 RLK is a 1985 Ford Escort, first registered on 27 June 1985.

Is B397 RLK safe to buy?

The MOT history for B397 RLK shows 4 tests with a 75% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does B397 RLK 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 B397 RLK. 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.