Bentley Azure MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 29 model years and 1,309 tests, the Bentley Azure passes its MOT 92.4% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the Azure comes out 18.2pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.1%) and brakes (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 31 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.5% versus 3.6%.
How it compares
By model year
Every Azure model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 36 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 163 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 146 | 89.7% | 10.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 92 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 83 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 55 | 90.9% | 9.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 88 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Brakes |
| 2002 | 53 | 90.6% | 9.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 76 | 94.7% | 5.3% | Steering |
| 2006 | 145 | 93.8% | 6.2% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 158 | 95.6% | 4.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2008 | 85 | 98.8% | 1.2% | Steering |
| 2009 | 43 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Tyres |
| 2010 | 46 | 97.8% | 2.2% | Seat belts & restraints |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.0% | 53 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 23 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 19 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.1% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 14 |
| 7 | Steering | 0.9% | 12 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 31 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 17 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 5 | Wipers | 13 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 7 | Parking brake performance | 8 |
| 8 | Lever | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 7.6% | 100 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.1% | 80 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 77 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 70 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.7% | 35 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.6% | 21 |
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 | 613 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 498 | 11.0% |
| 60-90k | 157 | 11.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 272 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 267 | 6.4% |
| 2023 | 275 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 228 | 6.1% |
| 2025 | 267 | 8.2% |
What to check before buying a Bentley Azure
- 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.
- Brakes (4.0% 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.
- Suspension (1.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Bentley Azure?
92.4% of the 1,309 Bentley Azure MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.6% fail rate, across model years 1993–2021.
What does the Bentley Azure most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.1% of tests, then brakes (4.0%).
How much does mileage affect Azure MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.5% for 60-90k, a 7.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,309 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.