2018 Bentley Bentayga — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2018 Bentley Bentayga passed 96.0% of its 2,806 recorded MOT tests. Against large SUVs of a similar age (10.3% fail rate), the 2018 Bentayga comes out 6.3pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.6%) and lighting & signalling (0.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, tread depth and headlamp aim — registration plates alone was recorded 33 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2018 Bentayga fails 4.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.5% at 60-90k, a spread of only 1.4 points.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 3.9% of the time against 4.0% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.6% | 74 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.9% | 25 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 24 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.9% | 24 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.3% | 9 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.2% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 33 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 24 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 4 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 11 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 6 | Washers | 7 |
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 | 10.8% | 302 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.7% | 75 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.2% | 61 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.0% | 57 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 50 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 10 |
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 | 1,331 | 4.1% |
| 30-60k | 1,235 | 3.6% |
| 60-90k | 220 | 5.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,759 | 3.9% |
| Diesel | 1,043 | 4.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 600 | 4.3% |
| 2022 | 582 | 4.5% |
| 2023 | 562 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | 526 | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 536 | 3.5% |
What to check before buying a 2018 Bentayga
On a 2018 Bentayga, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.6% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (0.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (0.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2018 Bentley Bentaygas pass their MOT?
96.0% of the 2,806 2018 Bentley Bentayga MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 4.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2018 Bentley Bentayga?
Tyres, recorded in 2.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (0.9%).
Does the 2018 Bentayga get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.1% in the 0-30k band to 5.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,806 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.