2010 Bentley Continental — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,907 MOT tests, the 2010 Bentley Continental recorded a 92.0% pass rate. Against coupes & convertibles of a similar age (19.2% fail rate), the 2010 Continental comes out 11.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (3.7%) and tyres (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, individual direction indicators and headlamp aim — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 53 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.5% versus 5.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 13.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.7% | 108 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.7% | 78 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.0% | 57 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.2% | 35 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 34 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 21 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 53 |
| 2 | Individual direction indicators | 32 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 30 |
| 5 | Washers | 29 |
| 6 | Headlamp cleaning device | 27 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 13.4% | 390 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.6% | 222 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 115 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.5% | 101 |
| 5 | Other defects | 1.8% | 52 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.0% | 28 |
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 | 772 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,443 | 8.3% |
| 60-90k | 586 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 96 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 596 | 7.7% |
| 2022 | 591 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 579 | 7.8% |
| 2024 | 573 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 568 | 8.6% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Continental
On a 2010 Continental, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (3.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.7% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Emissions & environmental (2.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2010 Bentley Continentals pass their MOT?
92.0% of the 2,907 2010 Bentley Continental MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Bentley Continental?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by tyres (2.7%).
Does the 2010 Continental get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,907 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.