1986 Lotus Esprit — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 287 MOT tests, the 1986 Lotus Esprit recorded a 92.7% pass rate. That is 13.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 20.4%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.6%) and emissions & environmental (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, washers and position lamp — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 11 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1986 Esprit fails 6.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.9% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.4 points.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 10.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 16 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 9 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 7 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.1% | 6 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.7% | 2 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.7% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 11 |
| 2 | Washers | 6 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 5 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 4 |
| 5 | Horn | 3 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 3 |
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 | 10.8% | 31 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.7% | 22 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.8% | 11 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 3.8% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.1% | 9 |
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 | 46 | 6.5% |
| 30-60k | 125 | 7.2% |
| 60-90k | 101 | 6.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 67 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 62 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 50 | 2.0% |
| 2025 | 45 | 8.9% |
What to check before buying a 1986 Esprit
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.4% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 1986 Lotus Esprits pass their MOT?
92.7% of the 287 1986 Lotus Esprit MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Lotus Esprit?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (3.1%).
Does the 1986 Esprit get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.5% in the 0-30k band to 6.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 287 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.