1995 Bentley Brooklands — MOT failures & pass rate
261 MOT tests on the 1995 Bentley Brooklands are in this dataset, and 87.0% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 11.2pp 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 (8.8%) and lighting & signalling (7.3%) 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 headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 14 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 Brooklands fails 10.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 13.5% at 120-150k, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 24.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 7.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.7% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.8% | 23 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.3% | 19 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 11 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 7 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.3% | 6 |
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 | 9 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 5 | Ball joint | 6 |
| 6 | Rigid brake pipes | 5 |
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 | 24.1% | 63 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.3% | 53 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.2% | 45 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.7% | 41 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.3% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.4% | 14 |
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 | 74 | 10.8% |
| 60-90k | 99 | 13.1% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 18.6% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 13.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 52 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 60 | 13.3% |
| 2023 | 56 | 12.5% |
| 2024 | 51 | 15.7% |
| 2025 | 42 | 16.7% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Brooklands
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 8.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (8.8% 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 (7.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (4.2% 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 1995 Bentley Brooklandss pass their MOT?
87.0% of the 261 1995 Bentley Brooklands MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Bentley Brooklands?
Brakes, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.3%).
Does the 1995 Brooklands get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.8% in the 30-60k band to 13.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 261 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.