1996 Bentley Turbo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Bentley Turbo passed 85.4% of its 479 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.6% of the time, so this is 10.0pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (8.6%) 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 wipers — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 32 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.4% in the 30-60k band and 16.1% in the 120-150k band, a 6.8-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 19.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.6% | 41 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 36 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 23 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 5 |
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) | 32 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 19 |
| 3 | Wipers | 11 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 5 | Washers | 9 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 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 | Brakes | 19.0% | 91 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.7% | 75 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.2% | 63 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 51 |
| 5 | Steering | 9.0% | 43 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.6% | 22 |
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 | 96 | 9.4% |
| 60-90k | 217 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 22.5% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 16.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 98 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 106 | 17.9% |
| 2023 | 98 | 12.2% |
| 2024 | 80 | 12.5% |
| 2025 | 97 | 15.5% |
What to check before buying a 1996 Turbo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 8.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (8.6% 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 (4.8% 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 1996 Bentley Turbos pass their MOT?
85.4% of the 479 1996 Bentley Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Bentley Turbo?
Brakes, recorded in 8.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.5%).
Does the 1996 Turbo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.4% in the 30-60k band to 16.1% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 479 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.