2012 Bentley Mulsanne — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 342 MOT tests, the 2012 Bentley Mulsanne recorded a 95.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 21.7% of the time, so this is 16.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (2.1%) and lighting & signalling (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, headlamp and pins and bushes — malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 5 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Mulsanne fails 2.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 5.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 3.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 10.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 7 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 6 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.8% | 6 |
| 4 | Tyres | 1.8% | 6 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.6% | 2 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.6% | 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 | 5 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 3 |
| 3 | Pins and bushes | 3 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 3 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 3 |
| 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 | 10.2% | 35 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.6% | 19 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.2% | 11 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.9% | 10 |
| 5 | Other defects | 0.9% | 3 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 3 |
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 | 131 | 2.3% |
| 30-60k | 172 | 7.0% |
| 60-90k | 37 | 5.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 2.9% |
| 2022 | 70 | 5.7% |
| 2023 | 65 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 73 | 8.2% |
| 2025 | 65 | 3.1% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Mulsanne
On a 2012 Mulsanne, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (2.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (1.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (1.8% 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 2012 Bentley Mulsannes pass their MOT?
95.0% of the 342 2012 Bentley Mulsanne MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Bentley Mulsanne?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 2.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (1.8%).
Does the 2012 Mulsanne get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 2.3% in the 0-30k band to 5.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 342 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.