2004 Bentley Arnage — MOT failures & pass rate
565 MOT tests on the 2004 Bentley Arnage are in this dataset, and 89.2% of them passed. That is 16.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (5.0%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, rbt (sp) and exhaust system — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 15 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.1% versus 9.8%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 16.1% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.2% in 2021 to 11.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 5.0% | 28 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 22 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.4% | 19 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 14 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 10 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.6% | 9 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 15 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 12 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 10 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 9 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.1% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 11.5% | 65 |
| 3 | Tyres | 9.2% | 52 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.1% | 29 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.2% | 18 |
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 | 82 | 9.8% |
| 30-60k | 290 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 144 | 11.8% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 121 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 113 | 6.2% |
| 2023 | 111 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 114 | 14.9% |
| 2025 | 106 | 11.3% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Arnage
On a 2004 Arnage, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (5.0% 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 (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (3.4% 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 2004 Bentley Arnages pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 565 2004 Bentley Arnage MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Bentley Arnage?
Brakes, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Does the 2004 Arnage get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 565 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.