1990 Bentley Turbo — MOT failures & pass rate
474 MOT tests on the 1990 Bentley Turbo are in this dataset, and 88.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (21.8% fail rate), the 1990 Turbo comes out 10.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.7%) and brakes (5.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), rear fog lamp and wipers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 15 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.5% once past 120-150k — 2.5× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 21.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.2% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.7% | 27 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.5% | 26 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.4% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 10 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.5% | 7 |
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) | 15 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 3 | Wipers | 10 |
| 4 | Washers | 10 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 9 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 9 |
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 | 21.1% | 100 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.2% | 72 |
| 3 | Tyres | 12.2% | 58 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.8% | 51 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.4% | 35 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 20 |
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 | 34 | 5.9% |
| 30-60k | 72 | 4.2% |
| 60-90k | 190 | 12.1% |
| 90-120k | 90 | 14.4% |
| 120-150k | 62 | 14.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 110 | 15.4% |
| 2023 | 99 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 88 | 6.8% |
| 2025 | 79 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Turbo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.7% 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 (5.5% 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 1990 Bentley Turbos pass their MOT?
88.6% of the 474 1990 Bentley Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Bentley Turbo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by brakes (5.7%).
Does the 1990 Turbo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.9% in the 0-30k band to 14.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 474 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.