How reliable is the Ford Capri compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the Ford Capri, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 83.2% across 1,964 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What is the most common MOT failure on a Ford Capri?

The item recorded most often is "Emissions levels exceed default limits", which appears in 15.8% of failed Ford Capri tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.

What do testers most often warn about on a Ford Capri?

The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 7.8% of all Ford Capri tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a Ford Capri usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 51,635 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Model reliability file

Ford Capri MOT pass rate & common failures

From 1,964 recorded MOT tests of the Ford Capri, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 1,964 MOT tests, 83.2% of Ford Capri tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the Ford Capri fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is emissions levels exceed default limits, which appears in 15.8% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 51,635 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

83.2%unadjusted, not comparable1,964 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the Capri. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 1,964 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed Ford Capri tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Emissions levels exceed default limits15.8%
42 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained
2.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake13.6%
36 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
3.Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen13.6%
36 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
4.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired12.5%
33 occurrencesSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained
5.A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning12.1%
32 occurrencesLamp not working explained
6.Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle11.3%
30 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
7.A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED10.9%
29 occurrencesHeadlamp not working explained
8.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements9.8%
26 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
9.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen7.9%
21 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
10.Audible warning inoperative6.8%
18 occurrencesHorn not working, or of the wrong type explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all Ford Capri tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users7.8%
153 tests
2.A wheel bearing with excessive play7.2%
142 testsWheel bearing has excessive play or is rough explained
3.A tyre seriously damaged6.7%
132 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded3.8%
74 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
5.Exhaust system leaking or insecure3.3%
64 testsExhaust leaking or insecure explained
6.Play in steering rack inner joint(s)3.0%
59 tests
7.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake2.8%
55 testsBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
8.The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired2.8%
54 testsSuspension mounting corroded or insecure explained

The rest of the record

Everything else recorded on the Ford Capri

The 17 other defects testers recorded on this model, beyond the most common listed above. Each links to what it means and what it takes to put right.

What gets tested

The Capri fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 51,635
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol99.9%

Check a specific Ford Capri

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other Ford models

Ford Fiesta — 67.1% adjusted
Ford Focus — 71.6% adjusted
Ford Kuga — 75.3% adjusted
Ford Transit — 68.0% adjusted
Ford Transit Custom — 77.3% unadjusted
Ford Mondeo — 76.0% adjusted
All Ford models

Common questions

How reliable is the Ford Capri compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the Ford Capri, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 83.2% across 1,964 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a Ford Capri?: The item recorded most often is "Emissions levels exceed default limits", which appears in 15.8% of failed Ford Capri tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a Ford Capri?: The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 7.8% of all Ford Capri tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a Ford Capri usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 51,635 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.