FORD ESCORT1998 · 1.8L PETROL

The most recent MOT record is dated 1 December 2009 at 89,919 miles, meaning this vehicle has held no certified roadworthiness status for over sixteen years as of today, 18 June 2026. The maintenance trend cannot be classified as stable, worsening, or improving in any meaningful sense because the record ends abruptly after 2009. What can be said is that the 2008 test cycle showed a resolving pattern: the car failed on 8 December 2008 for headlamp aim, seat belt anchorage corrosion, and rear suspension mounting corrosion, yet passed the following day at the same 74,352 miles. That suggests the previous owner addressed those specific failures promptly, at least in the short term. The mileage profile is unusual. Between 23 January 2008 at 60,324 miles and 8 December 2008 at 74,352 miles, the vehicle covered 14,028 miles in under eleven months, a sharp rise for a car of that era. After that burst, the recorded mileage froze at 89,919 miles from 1 December 2009 onwards, implying the car has either stood unused for the bulk of the last sixteen years or has been used only very sparingly without updated testing. For a 1998 model, the overall average of roughly 3,211 miles per year is low, but the uneven distribution raises more questions than the headline figure answers. A buyer should treat any inspection with caution, focusing on the areas the MOT history repeatedly highlighted. The 2008 failure identified excessive corrosion on the offside outer seat belt anchorage and the offside rear suspension component mounting prescribed area, both structural zones where rust can compromise occupant protection and suspension integrity. The nearside body also showed slight corrosion in the 2008 pass, and the front brake discs were flagged as worn, pitted, or scored across both the failed and passed tests that January. Anti-roll bar linkage wear appeared on both front corners as well. Given the car has likely sat stationary for an extended period, rubber suspension bushes, brake calipers, tyres, and fluid systems deserve close scrutiny, as prolonged inactivity accelerates deterioration in these components regardless of the low mileage.