1991 Bentley Turbo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 273 MOT tests, the 1991 Bentley Turbo recorded an 87.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 22.3% of the time, so this is 9.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (7.0%) and lighting & signalling (7.0%) 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 shock absorbers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 5.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 16.3% once past 120-150k — 3.1× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 18.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 7.0% | 19 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.0% | 19 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.2% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 9 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.2% | 6 |
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) | 12 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 3 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 7 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 6 |
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 | 18.7% | 51 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.2% | 36 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 30 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.1% | 14 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.7% | 10 |
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 | 38 | 5.3% |
| 60-90k | 86 | 17.4% |
| 90-120k | 76 | 7.9% |
| 120-150k | 43 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | 9.3% |
| 2022 | 64 | 18.8% |
| 2023 | 56 | 14.3% |
| 2024 | 54 | 9.3% |
| 2025 | 45 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Turbo
On a 1991 Turbo, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (7.0% 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 (7.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.2% 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.
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 1991 Bentley Turbos pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 273 1991 Bentley Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Bentley Turbo?
Suspension, recorded in 7.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.0%).
Does the 1991 Turbo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.3% in the 30-60k band to 16.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 273 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.