Bentley Turbo MOT pass rate & common failures
The Bentley Turbo appears in 4,577 MOT tests spanning model years 1983–2020, and 86.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 23.3% of the time, so this is 9.4pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (7.9%) and lighting & signalling (7.5%) 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 236 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.4% versus 7.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 17.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Turbo model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 58 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Brakes |
| 1986 | 112 | 79.5% | 20.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 161 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Brakes |
| 1988 | 196 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Brakes |
| 1989 | 394 | 86.6% | 13.5% | Brakes |
| 1990 | 474 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 273 | 87.5% | 12.4% | Suspension |
| 1992 | 232 | 84.9% | 15.1% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 188 | 79.8% | 20.2% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 335 | 85.4% | 14.6% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 419 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 479 | 85.4% | 14.6% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 1,128 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 88 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 7.9% | 362 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 342 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.4% | 246 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.2% | 148 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.1% | 96 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 79 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 77 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.3% | 60 |
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) | 236 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 128 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
| 4 | Washers | 92 |
| 5 | Wipers | 90 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 79 |
| 7 | Parking brake performance | 67 |
| 8 | Coil spring | 66 |
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 | 17.8% | 815 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.8% | 678 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 12.8% | 588 |
| 4 | Tyres | 12.4% | 566 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.2% | 329 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.4% | 155 |
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 | 308 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 942 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,705 | 15.9% |
| 90-120k | 1,066 | 14.8% |
| 120-150k | 402 | 15.7% |
| 150k+ | 149 | 17.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 997 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 1,006 | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 906 | 12.9% |
| 2024 | 851 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 817 | 13.5% |
What to check before buying a Bentley Turbo
- Brakes (7.9% 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 (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (5.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Bentley Turbo?
86.2% of the 4,577 Bentley Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.9% fail rate, across model years 1983–2020.
What does the Bentley Turbo most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 7.9% of tests, then lighting & signalling (7.5%).
How much does mileage affect Turbo MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.4% for 150k+, a 10.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,577 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.