1994 Bentley Brooklands — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Bentley Brooklands passed 84.9% of its 285 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.1%) and brakes (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), position lamp and coil spring — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 14 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1994 Brooklands fails 12.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 16.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 4.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 23 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 20 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.0% | 20 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 12 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.9% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 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) | 14 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 3 | Coil spring | 9 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 9 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 6 | Wipers | 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 | Suspension | 22.1% | 63 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 18.6% | 53 |
| 3 | Brakes | 18.3% | 52 |
| 4 | Steering | 9.5% | 27 |
| 5 | Tyres | 8.1% | 23 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 16 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 71 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 80 | 13.8% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 19.8% |
| 120-150k | 36 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 57 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 55 | 14.5% |
| 2023 | 58 | 19.0% |
| 2024 | 59 | 17.0% |
| 2025 | 56 | 12.5% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Brooklands
On a 1994 Brooklands, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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 (7.0% 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 1994 Bentley Brooklandss pass their MOT?
84.9% of the 285 1994 Bentley Brooklands MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 15.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Bentley Brooklands?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 1994 Brooklands get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 30-60k band to 16.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 285 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.