1997 Bentley Brooklands — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 386 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Bentley Brooklands, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 88.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (76.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.0% | 27 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 16 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.2% | 16 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 10 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.3% | 9 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.8% | 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) | 18 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 3 | Washers | 7 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 6 |
| 5 | Brake pads | 4 |
| 6 | Other components | 4 |
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 | 17.9% | 69 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.3% | 59 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.5% | 52 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 11.4% | 44 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.8% | 30 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 12 |
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 | 114 | 8.8% |
| 60-90k | 159 | 13.2% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 16.3% |
| 120-150k | 30 | 6.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 87 | 16.1% |
| 2022 | 70 | 8.6% |
| 2023 | 89 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 70 | 12.9% |
| 2025 | 70 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Brooklands
Before buying a 1997 Bentley Brooklands, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 7.0% of tests for this year.
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% 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 1997 Bentley Brooklandss pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 386 1997 Bentley Brooklands MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Bentley Brooklands?
Brakes, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.2%).
Does the 1997 Brooklands get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.8% in the 30-60k band to 6.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 386 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.