CarVerify

Free Car Check

P397 RDM

1997 Ford Escort

Red Petrol 1597cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Expired
Expires5 Apr 2011
Tests10 (5 pass, 5 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

71,342 mi
Last recorded71,342 miles
Recorded on6 Apr 2010
Typical for 1997 Ford Escort62,516 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Ford
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationP397 RDM
MakeFord
ModelEscort
Year1997
ColourRed
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

5 pass 5 fail
Pass 6 Apr 2010 71,342 miles

front brake discs and pads will be required in approx 6000 miles

n/s rear wheel bearing has slight play

o/s sill to floor and rear chassisi is starting to corrode

oil pressure switch is leaking

slight blow on centre exhaust box

Fail 1 Apr 2010 71,328 miles

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

Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play (2.6.2)

front brake discs and pads will be required in approx 6000 miles

n/s rear wheel bearing has slight play

o/s sill to floor and rear chassisi is starting to corrode

oil pressure switch is leaking

slight blow on centre exhaust box

Pass 31 Mar 2009 67,428 miles

both outer sills are corroding

centre exhaust has a slight blow

fuel filter corroded

o/s/r chassis leg corroding

vacuum hose at inlet manifold split

Fail 25 Mar 2009 67,346 miles

Brake pipe inadequately supported (3.6.B.1)

Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

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

both outer sills are corroding

centre exhaust has a slight blow

fuel filter corroded

o/s/r chassis leg corroding

vacuum hose at inlet manifold split

Pass 19 Mar 2008 62,214 miles

other two tyres are worn close to limit and tracking will be required

outer sills floors and chassis starting to corrode

Fail 18 Mar 2008 62,214 miles

Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Offside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated (2.6.1)

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

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

other two tyres are worn close to limit and tracking will be required

outer sills floors and chassis starting to corrode

Pass 27 Mar 2007 59,174 miles
Fail 27 Mar 2007 59,174 miles

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

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering (6.1.A.1)

Pass 24 Mar 2006 54,785 miles
Fail 22 Mar 2006 54,785 miles

Nearside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Offside Rear Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Rear Exhaust has part of the system excessively deteriorated (7.1.1a)

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

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

P397 RDM is a 1997 Ford Escort in Red with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 10 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

Across all 1997 Ford Escort models, the average MOT pass rate is 62.1% with a typical mileage of 62,516 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 P397 RDM, 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 29 years old, this Ford Escort is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of P397 RDM?

You can check the full history of P397 RDM by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was P397 RDM registered?

P397 RDM is a 1997 Ford Escort, first registered on 17 April 1997.

Is P397 RDM safe to buy?

The MOT history for P397 RDM shows 10 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does P397 RDM 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 P397 RDM. 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.