1990 Lancia Delta — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 320 MOT tests, the 1990 Lancia Delta recorded an 85.9% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 21.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.8%) and brakes (5.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, washers and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.3% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 19.4% once past 90-120k — 2.6× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 18.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 10.1% of tests failed in 2022 against 11.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.9% | 19 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.1% | 13 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 11 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.4% | 11 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 7 |
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 | 17 |
| 2 | Washers | 10 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 9 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 5 | Non catalyst emissions | 7 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 7 |
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 | 18.8% | 60 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 13.4% | 43 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.8% | 41 |
| 4 | Tyres | 8.8% | 28 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.4% | 27 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 15 |
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 | 68 | 7.3% |
| 60-90k | 115 | 12.2% |
| 90-120k | 93 | 19.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 69 | 10.1% |
| 2023 | 83 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 73 | 12.3% |
| 2025 | 67 | 11.9% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Delta
On a 1990 Delta, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.9% 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 (4.1% 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 Lancia Deltas pass their MOT?
85.9% of the 320 1990 Lancia Delta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 14.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Lancia Delta?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by brakes (5.9%).
Does the 1990 Delta get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 30-60k band to 19.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 320 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.