Ford Sierra
Registered from 1990 to 1993.
About this model
The Ford Sierra is a mid-size/large family car manufactured and marketed by Ford of Europe from 1982–1993. It was launched as a three-door or five-door hatchback or a five-door estate car, with a car-derived van variant added in 1984 and the four-door Sierra Sapphire saloon car introduced in 1987 when the range was facelifted. The engine is mounted in the front with rear-wheel drive on most models and four-wheel drive on certain models.
From the Wikipedia article Ford Sierra, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1990 2.0 petrol. 31 of 303 tests failed, 10%.
Better than 96% of 1990 cars. The typical one fails 21%, across 86 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body and structure | 35% | 11 |
| Lights and electrics | 29% | 9 |
| Brakes | 26% | 8 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 23% | 7 |
| Suspension | 19% | 6 |
| Steering | 16% | 5 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- 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 repaired
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 26% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Exhaust and emissions — 23% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Suspension — 19% of its failures
- 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 repaired
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Steering — 16% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 29% of its failures
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 35% of its failures
- 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 repaired
- Body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 9% of its inspections, against the 20% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 6% | — | 65 | |
| 20–40k miles | 9% | — | 47 | |
| 40–60k miles | 18% | — | 57 | |
| 60–80k miles | 10% | — | 50 | |
| 80–100k miles | 9% | 20% | 75 |
294 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.