1996 Bentley Brooklands — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 494 MOT tests, the 1996 Bentley Brooklands recorded an 85.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 24.7% of the time, so this is 10.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 9.9% of all tests — 3.4 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), coil spring and wipers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 30 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 6.3% in the 0-30k band and 15.2% in the 120-150k band, a 8.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 15.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 14.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 16.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 9.9% | 49 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 6.5% | 32 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 31 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.0% | 15 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.8% | 14 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 7 |
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) | 30 |
| 2 | Coil spring | 16 |
| 3 | Wipers | 12 |
| 4 | Hydraulic brake callipers | 12 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 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 | 15.6% | 77 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.6% | 77 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.8% | 68 |
| 4 | Brakes | 13.6% | 67 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.7% | 38 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.2% | 11 |
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 | 48 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 160 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 162 | 19.8% |
| 90-120k | 86 | 15.1% |
| 120-150k | 33 | 15.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 109 | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 104 | 13.5% |
| 2023 | 97 | 13.4% |
| 2024 | 93 | 14.0% |
| 2025 | 91 | 16.5% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Brooklands
On a 1996 Brooklands, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (9.9% 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 (6.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.3% 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 1996 Bentley Brooklandss pass their MOT?
85.6% of the 494 1996 Bentley Brooklands MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Bentley Brooklands?
Brakes, recorded in 9.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (6.5%).
Does the 1996 Brooklands get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 15.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 494 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.