Lancia Delta MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 39 model years and 2,670 tests, the Lancia Delta passes its MOT 87.7% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 22.6% of the time, so this is 10.3pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests against 4.3% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, catalyst emissions and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 132 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.6% once past 150k — 2.1× the risk.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 12.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 15.2% in 2021 to 9.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Delta model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 40 | 82.5% | 17.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 192 | 80.7% | 19.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 291 | 83.5% | 16.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 320 | 85.9% | 14.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 214 | 85.5% | 14.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 452 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1993 | 178 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1994 | 331 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1995 | 152 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 86 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 99 | 83.8% | 16.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 47 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 34 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2014 | 30 | 76.7% | 23.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.7% | 205 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.3% | 115 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.0% | 108 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.1% | 84 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.1% | 83 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 63 |
| 7 | Steering | 1.1% | 29 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.7% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 132 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 92 |
| 3 | Washers | 80 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 72 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 46 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 45 |
| 7 | Non catalyst emissions | 43 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 38 |
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 | 12.1% | 323 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.0% | 267 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 204 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.8% | 156 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 132 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 104 |
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 | 203 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 544 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 854 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 587 | 15.2% |
| 120-150k | 271 | 17.0% |
| 150k+ | 193 | 16.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 566 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | 515 | 12.6% |
| 2023 | 558 | 14.2% |
| 2024 | 523 | 9.6% |
| 2025 | 508 | 9.7% |
What to check before buying a Lancia Delta
- Lighting & signalling (7.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (4.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Lancia Delta?
87.7% of the 2,670 Lancia Delta MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 12.3% fail rate, across model years 1983–2021.
What does the Lancia Delta most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.7% of tests, then brakes (4.3%).
How much does mileage affect Delta MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 16.6% for 150k+, a 8.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,670 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.