2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost passed 96.3% of its 482 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (21.6% fail rate), the 2012 Ghost comes out 17.9pp better. Failures cluster in tyres, visibility and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.3%) and visibility (0.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, washers and headlamp cleaning device — registration plates alone was recorded 5 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 2012 Ghost fails 1.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 3.1% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.8 points.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 8.8% in 2021 to 1.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.3% | 11 |
| 2 | Visibility | 0.6% | 3 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.6% | 3 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 0.6% | 3 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.4% | 2 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.2% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 2 | Washers | 4 |
| 3 | Headlamp cleaning device | 2 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 2 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 2 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 2 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.9% | 33 |
| 2 | Suspension | 2.1% | 10 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 9 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.7% | 8 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.0% | 5 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.0% | 5 |
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 | 148 | 1.4% |
| 30-60k | 218 | 5.5% |
| 60-90k | 81 | 3.7% |
| 90-120k | 32 | 3.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 102 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 99 | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 94 | 1.1% |
| 2024 | 101 | 2.0% |
| 2025 | 86 | 1.2% |
What to check before buying a 2012 Ghost
On a 2012 Ghost, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 2.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (2.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Visibility (0.6% 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.
- Other defects (0.6% of tests): Miscellaneous items not in the main categories. Typical repair: varies.
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 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghosts pass their MOT?
96.3% of the 482 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 3.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost?
Tyres, recorded in 2.3% of tests, followed by visibility (0.6%).
Does the 2012 Ghost get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 1.4% in the 0-30k band to 3.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 482 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.