2002 Bentley Arnage — MOT failures & pass rate
943 MOT tests on the 2002 Bentley Arnage are in this dataset, and 88.4% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 15.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.1%) and lighting & signalling (4.9%) 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 wipers — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 30 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2002 Arnage fails 10.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 14.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 17.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.5% in 2021 to 8.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.1% | 48 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 46 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.7% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 28 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 25 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 17 |
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 | 30 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 3 | Wipers | 27 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 18 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 17 |
| 6 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 17 |
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 | 17.5% | 165 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.9% | 150 |
| 3 | Tyres | 11.5% | 108 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.0% | 66 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.3% | 50 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 34 |
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 | 97 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 358 | 8.4% |
| 60-90k | 386 | 14.0% |
| 90-120k | 78 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 208 | 11.5% |
| 2022 | 211 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 187 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 175 | 13.7% |
| 2025 | 162 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Arnage
On a 2002 Arnage, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (5.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.7% 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.
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 2002 Bentley Arnages pass their MOT?
88.4% of the 943 2002 Bentley Arnage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Bentley Arnage?
Brakes, recorded in 5.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.9%).
Does the 2002 Arnage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 943 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.