2001 Bentley Arnage — MOT failures & pass rate
1,204 MOT tests on the 2001 Bentley Arnage are in this dataset, and 89.3% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.0% of the time, so this is 16.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.4%) and suspension (4.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, rbt (sp) and malfunction indicator lamp — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 42 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.6% in the 0-30k band and 28.8% in the 120-150k band, a 26.2-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 14.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.4% | 53 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.3% | 52 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 49 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.3% | 28 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 18 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 42 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
| 3 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 17 |
| 5 | Individual direction indicators | 13 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.7% | 201 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.8% | 154 |
| 3 | Tyres | 11.2% | 135 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 77 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.4% | 41 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.3% | 40 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 115 | 2.6% |
| 30-60k | 537 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 386 | 10.6% |
| 90-120k | 104 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 52 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 236 | 8.1% |
| 2022 | 247 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 254 | 11.8% |
| 2024 | 223 | 11.2% |
| 2025 | 244 | 14.8% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Arnage
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (4.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (4.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2001 Bentley Arnages pass their MOT?
89.3% of the 1,204 2001 Bentley Arnage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Bentley Arnage?
Brakes, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by suspension (4.3%).
Does the 2001 Arnage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,204 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.