1992 Lancia Delta — MOT failures & pass rate

452 MOT tests on the 1992 Lancia Delta are in this dataset, and 91.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 22.7% of the time, so this is 14.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and suspension.

Pass rate

452

MOT tests analysed

8.2%

Fail rate

better than

vs cars of similar age

31.3

Avg age at test (yrs)

What the MOT record shows

No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (3.1%) and brakes (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.

At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, non catalyst emissions and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 10 times.

A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 17.5% versus 4.9%.

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1992 Lancia Delta
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Emissions & environmental	3.1%	14
2	Brakes	2.6%	12
3	Suspension	2.4%	11
4	Lighting & signalling	2.4%	11
5	Visibility	1.3%	6
6	Body, structure & corrosion	1.1%	5

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1992 Lancia Delta
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Catalyst emissions	10
2	Non catalyst emissions	8
3	Washers	6
4	Headlamp aim	5
5	Side repeaters	5
6	Rbt (sp)	4

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1992 Lancia Delta
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Suspension	7.7%	35
2	Emissions & environmental	6.6%	30
3	Brakes	6.4%	29
4	Tyres	4.7%	21
5	Body, structure & corrosion	3.3%	15
6	Lighting & signalling	2.6%	12

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1992 Delta
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	41	4.9%
30-60k	81	3.7%
60-90k	166	9.0%
90-120k	80	10.0%
120-150k	42	4.8%
150k+	40	17.5%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1992 Delta
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	34	5.9%
2022	113	10.6%
2023	103	11.7%
2024	103	4.9%
2025	99	6.1%

What to check before buying a 1992 Delta

On a 1992 Delta, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.

Emissions & environmental (3.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
Brakes (2.6% 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.
Suspension (2.4% 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 1992 Lancia Deltas pass their MOT?

91.8% of the 452 1992 Lancia Delta MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Lancia Delta?

Emissions & environmental, recorded in 3.1% of tests, followed by brakes (2.6%).

Does the 1992 Delta get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.9% in the 0-30k band to 17.5% in the 150k+ band.

Methodology & source. Based on 452 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.