2011 Bentley Mulsanne — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 486 MOT tests, the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne recorded a 93.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 2011 Mulsanne comes out 16.2pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.9%) and emissions & environmental (1.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are malfunction indicator lamp, shock absorbers and headlamp aim — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 8 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 2.9% in the 0-30k band and 8.2% in the 60-90k band, a 5.3-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 14.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.8% in 2021 to 7.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.9% | 14 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 9 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.7% | 8 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 6 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.8% | 4 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.4% | 2 |
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 | 8 |
| 2 | Shock absorbers | 6 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 3 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 2 |
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 | 14.8% | 72 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.4% | 36 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.6% | 27 |
| 4 | Other defects | 3.7% | 18 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 9 |
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 | 172 | 2.9% |
| 30-60k | 240 | 10.0% |
| 60-90k | 61 | 8.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 96 | 6.3% |
| 2023 | 93 | 3.2% |
| 2024 | 99 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 96 | 7.3% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Mulsanne
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 2.9% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (2.9% 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 (1.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (1.7% 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 2011 Bentley Mulsannes pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 486 2011 Bentley Mulsanne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Bentley Mulsanne?
Tyres, recorded in 2.9% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (1.8%).
Does the 2011 Mulsanne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.9% in the 0-30k band to 8.2% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 486 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.