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N397 XTA

1996 Ford Freda

Silver Diesel 2490cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires8 Dec 2026
Tests32 (20 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

239,888 mi
Last recorded239,888 miles
Recorded on9 Dec 2025
Typical for 1996 Ford Freda132,811 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

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

RegistrationN397 XTA
MakeFord
ModelFreda
Year1996
ColourSilver
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,490cc

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

20 pass 12 fail
Pass 9 Dec 2025 239,888 miles
Fail 9 Dec 2025 239,888 miles

Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 5 Oct 2024 232,993 miles

Nearside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Coil spring corroded (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Pass 2 Oct 2023 228,052 miles

rear seat not fitted at time of test

underbody corroding

Pass 3 Oct 2022 227,781 miles

Coil spring corroded x4 springs (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced various points of chassis corroded and flaky in places /various repairs in past (6.1.1 (c) (i))

anti roll bar link bushes perished

leisure battery insecure

oil leaks

Fail 29 Sep 2022 227,781 miles

Nearside Front Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced inner sill to outer (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Coil spring corroded x4 springs (5.3.1 (b) (i))

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

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

Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced various points of chassis corroded and flaky in places /various repairs in past (6.1.1 (c) (i))

anti roll bar link bushes perished

leisure battery insecure

oil leaks

Pass 30 Sep 2021 227,705 miles
Fail 28 Sep 2021 227,704 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases rear box (6.1.2 (a))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength floor to sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5.2.3 (e)) DANGEROUS

Pass 30 Jul 2020 220,959 miles

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

Fail 20 Jul 2020 220,835 miles

Fuel system component leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Headlamp aim not tested (4.1.2 (b))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt boot split (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt boot split (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt boot split (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt boot split (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

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

Pass 1 Aug 2019 216,963 miles

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 4 Oct 2018 213,492 miles

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords outer sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Fail 24 Sep 2018 213,477 miles

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Rear Anti-roll bar pin or bush excessively worn both sides D bushes (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps both (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Front Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords outer sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

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

Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view (3.2 (a) (i))

Pass 8 May 2017 205,320 miles
Fail 27 Apr 2017 205,302 miles

Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion arch (6.1.C.1)

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded slii (2.4.A.3)

Offside Front Inner Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (2.4.A.3)

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

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded cross member (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion arch (6.1.C.1)

Offside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded sill (2.4.A.3)

Pass 27 Apr 2016 200,725 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 3mm (4.1.E.1)

Fail 27 Apr 2016 200,725 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit 3mm (4.1.E.1)

Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Pass 1 May 2015 197,584 miles

Nearside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Upper Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Front suspension ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.A.1)

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Upper Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Oil leak

Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Pass 29 Apr 2014 195,073 miles

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Pass 15 Apr 2013 202,285 miles

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 15 Apr 2013 202,285 miles

Offside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 13 Apr 2012 195,789 miles

Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 8 Apr 2011 184,891 miles
Fail 8 Apr 2011 184,891 miles

Nearside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Offside rear brake application uneven (3.7.B.2)

Pass 23 Apr 2010 172,432 miles

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 23 Apr 2010 172,431 miles

An item not tested (Manual)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Centre Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Pass 22 Apr 2009 159,607 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated (7.1.1a)

Pass 21 Apr 2008 147,956 miles
Fail 21 Apr 2008 147,956 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour (7.4.B.4)

Pass 23 Apr 2007 131,587 miles
Fail 20 Apr 2007 131,587 miles

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Exhaust emits excessive smoke or vapour of any colour (7.4.B.4)

Nearside Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.5c)

Offside Rear Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

front discs scoring

Pass 24 Apr 2006 113,455 miles

How Reliable is the Ford Freda?

Based on 28,175 MOT tests across 1,491 vehicles.

67.2%
Pass Rate
5,107
Miles/Year
31
Year Lifespan
1,491
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

fog lamp not working 879
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 755
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 745
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 686
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 467
Full Ford Freda reliability report

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N397 XTA is a 1996 Ford Freda in Silver with a 2,490cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 32 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1996 Ford Freda models, the average MOT pass rate is 65.3% with a typical mileage of 132,811 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 Freda fails its MOT is fog lamp not working, accounting for 879 recorded failures. If you're considering buying N397 XTA, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Freda typically stays on UK roads for around 31 years. At 30 years old, this Ford Freda is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of N397 XTA?

You can check the full history of N397 XTA by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was N397 XTA registered?

N397 XTA is a 1996 Ford Freda, first registered on 1 March 1996.

Is N397 XTA safe to buy?

The MOT history for N397 XTA shows 32 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does N397 XTA 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 N397 XTA. 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.