1997 Bentley Continental — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Bentley Continental passed 89.7% of its 329 recorded MOT tests. That is 10.5 percentage points better than coupes & convertibles of a similar age, which fail at 20.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.5%) and brakes (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp and headlamp aim — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 12 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 3.4% in the 0-30k band and 21.1% in the 90-120k band, a 17.7-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 8.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.2% in 2021 to 10.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 18 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.5% | 18 |
| 3 | Suspension | 3.0% | 10 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.1% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 4 |
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) | 12 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Ball joint dust cover | 5 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
| 6 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 3 |
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 | 8.5% | 28 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 25 |
| 3 | Steering | 6.7% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 6.1% | 20 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.5% | 18 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 7 |
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 | 59 | 3.4% |
| 30-60k | 114 | 7.9% |
| 60-90k | 107 | 11.2% |
| 90-120k | 38 | 21.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 67 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 71 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 57 | 5.3% |
| 2025 | 68 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Continental
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.5% 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 (3.0% 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 1997 Bentley Continentals pass their MOT?
89.7% of the 329 1997 Bentley Continental MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Bentley Continental?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by brakes (5.5%).
Does the 1997 Continental get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.4% in the 0-30k band to 21.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 329 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.