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VAR 388W

1981 Ford Fiesta

White Petrol 1297cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires13 Jul 2019
Tests12 (6 pass, 6 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

13,626 mi
Last recorded13,626 miles
Recorded on27 May 2026
Typical for 1981 Ford Fiesta51,935 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

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

RegistrationVAR 388W
MakeFord
ModelFiesta
Year1981
ColourWhite
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,297cc

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

6 pass 6 fail
Fail 27 May 2026 13,626 miles

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

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

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

Rear Fuel tank leaking (6.1.3 (b) (i))

Front Brakes imbalanced requirements only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Service brake binding but not excessively (1.2.1 (f))

Pass 14 Jul 2018 13,605 miles
Fail 11 Jul 2018 13,605 miles

Central Front Exhaust emissions likely to be affected by an exhaust leak Exhaust manifold leaking exhaust gas (8.2.1.1 (b))

Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a))

Offside Rear Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Rear Fuel system component leaking excessively or a risk of fire Tank sender unit leaking at fuel tank (6.1.3 (b) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Pass 2 May 2017 13,605 miles

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

Oil leak gearbox

Fail 1 May 2017 13,605 miles

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Fuel tank leaking (7.2.3) DANGEROUS

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

Oil leak gearbox

Pass 30 Apr 2016 13,604 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Fail 28 Apr 2016 13,604 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

Pass 19 Mar 2015 13,605 miles
Fail 18 Mar 2015 13,605 miles

Offside Front Brake hose bulging under pressure (3.6.B.3)

Offside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped (3.6.B.1)

slight movement at both sides rear wheel bearings

Pass 12 Nov 2014 13,604 miles

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

Fail 29 Apr 2014 13,603 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (7.3.B.1b)

Front registration plate missing (6.3.1a)

Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim too high (1.8)

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Oil leak

Pass 6 Aug 2012 13,238 miles

How Reliable is the Ford Fiesta?

Based on 33,753,820 MOT tests across 2,828,392 vehicles.

72.8%
Pass Rate
5,238
Miles/Year
34
Year Lifespan
2,828,392
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 959,538
Brake pipe excessively corroded 870,463
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 634,942
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 563,353
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 507,195
Full Ford Fiesta reliability report

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VAR 388W is a 1981 Ford Fiesta in White with a 1,297cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 12 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

Across all 1981 Ford Fiesta models, the average MOT pass rate is 71.3% with a typical mileage of 51,935 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 Fiesta fails its MOT is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, accounting for 959,538 recorded failures. If you're considering buying VAR 388W, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Ford Fiesta typically stays on UK roads for around 34 years. At 45 years old, this Ford Fiesta is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of VAR 388W?

You can check the full history of VAR 388W by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was VAR 388W registered?

VAR 388W is a 1981 Ford Fiesta, first registered on 11 June 1981.

Is VAR 388W safe to buy?

The MOT history for VAR 388W shows 12 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 VAR 388W 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 VAR 388W. 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.