1989 Bentley Turbo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1989 Bentley Turbo passed 86.6% of its 394 recorded MOT tests. That is 7.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.3%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.4%) and suspension (6.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), joints and headlamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1989 Turbo fails 13.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 16.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.6 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 26.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 17.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.4% | 33 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.9% | 27 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 25 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 14 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.8% | 11 |
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) | 20 |
| 2 | Joints | 15 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 14 |
| 4 | Non catalyst emissions | 10 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 10 |
| 6 | Parking brake performance | 8 |
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 | 26.7% | 105 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 61 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.5% | 57 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.4% | 49 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.1% | 28 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.8% | 19 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 69 | 13.0% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 82 | 18.3% |
| 120-150k | 57 | 8.8% |
| 150k+ | 30 | 16.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 84 | 14.3% |
| 2023 | 78 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 67 | 10.4% |
| 2025 | 67 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Turbo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 8.4% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (8.4% 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 (6.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
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 1989 Bentley Turbos pass their MOT?
86.6% of the 394 1989 Bentley Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Bentley Turbo?
Brakes, recorded in 8.4% of tests, followed by suspension (6.9%).
Does the 1989 Turbo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.0% in the 30-60k band to 16.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 394 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.