1997 Bentley Turbo — MOT failures & pass rate
1,128 MOT tests on the 1997 Bentley Turbo are in this dataset, and 87.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the 1997 Turbo comes out 12.6pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (7.4%) and brakes (7.4%) 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 position lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 61 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 21.9% versus 3.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 15.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.3% in 2021 to 10.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.4% | 84 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 84 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.3% | 48 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 27 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.8% | 20 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 14 |
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) | 61 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 33 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 24 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 5 | Wipers | 19 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 18 |
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 | 15.8% | 178 |
| 2 | Suspension | 13.1% | 148 |
| 3 | Tyres | 10.3% | 116 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 9.0% | 102 |
| 5 | Steering | 7.7% | 87 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 33 |
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 | 83 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 354 | 9.3% |
| 60-90k | 396 | 15.4% |
| 90-120k | 252 | 13.5% |
| 120-150k | 32 | 21.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 248 | 15.3% |
| 2022 | 245 | 12.2% |
| 2023 | 221 | 14.5% |
| 2024 | 211 | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 203 | 10.8% |
What to check before buying a 1997 Turbo
On a 1997 Turbo, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 7.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (7.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.4% 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 (4.3% 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 1997 Bentley Turbos pass their MOT?
87.5% of the 1,128 1997 Bentley Turbo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Bentley Turbo?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.4% of tests, followed by brakes (7.4%).
Does the 1997 Turbo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 21.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,128 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.