Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph MOT pass rate & common failures
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph appears in 1,137 MOT tests spanning model years 1987–2020, and 90.9% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.0% fail rate), the Silver Seraph comes out 16.9pp better. Its most common failure areas are brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.5%) and suspension (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are ball joint dust cover, rbt (sp) and srs malfunction indicator lamp — ball joint dust cover alone was recorded 32 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 4.5% in the 0-30k band and 11.2% in the 90-120k band, a 6.7-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 14.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 9.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Silver Seraph model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 484 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 255 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 173 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Suspension |
| 2001 | 144 | 92.4% | 7.6% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 57 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.5% | 40 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.5% | 40 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 33 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.7% | 19 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 15 |
| 7 | Tyres | 1.2% | 14 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 6 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ball joint dust cover | 32 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 24 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 18 |
| 4 | Shock absorbers | 16 |
| 5 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 13 |
| 6 | Wipers | 13 |
| 7 | Rigid brake pipes | 12 |
| 8 | Lever | 9 |
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 | 14.8% | 168 |
| 2 | Tyres | 13.9% | 158 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.9% | 113 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 27 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.2% | 25 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.0% | 23 |
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 | 242 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 460 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 321 | 10.6% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 11.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 243 | 9.0% |
| 2022 | 223 | 8.5% |
| 2023 | 236 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 227 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 208 | 10.6% |
What to check before buying a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
- Brakes (3.5% 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 (3.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (2.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph?
90.9% of the 1,137 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.1% fail rate, across model years 1987–2020.
What does the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 3.5% of tests, then suspension (3.5%).
How much does mileage affect Silver Seraph MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.5% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.2% for 90-120k, a 6.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,137 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.