Rolls-Royce Wraith MOT pass rate & common failures
2,697 MOT tests on the Rolls-Royce Wraith (1984–2022) give it a 96.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (14.5% fail rate), the Wraith comes out 10.5pp better. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and other defects.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (2.3%) and lighting & signalling (0.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are registration plates, headlamp aim and tread depth — registration plates alone was recorded 38 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Wraith fails 3.3% of the time in the 0-30k band and 6.2% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.9 points.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 11.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Wraith model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 53 | 90.6% | 9.4% | Tyres |
| 2014 | 551 | 95.6% | 4.4% | Tyres |
| 2015 | 543 | 95.2% | 4.8% | Tyres |
| 2016 | 484 | 95.7% | 4.3% | Tyres |
| 2017 | 446 | 97.3% | 2.7% | Tyres |
| 2018 | 368 | 96.5% | 3.5% | Tyres |
| 2019 | 149 | 97.3% | 2.7% | Brakes |
| 2020 | 52 | 96.2% | 3.9% | Other defects |
| 2021 | 44 | 97.7% | 2.3% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 2.3% | 63 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 22 |
| 3 | Other defects | 0.8% | 22 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.7% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.4% | 12 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 8 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.1% | 3 |
| 8 | Road wheels | 0.1% | 3 |
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 | 38 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 12 |
| 4 | Washers | 11 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 10 |
| 6 | Pins and bushes | 7 |
| 7 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 5 |
| 8 | Brake pads | 4 |
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 | 11.9% | 320 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 77 |
| 3 | Other defects | 1.6% | 42 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.0% | 27 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.7% | 19 |
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 | 1,892 | 3.3% |
| 30-60k | 692 | 5.5% |
| 60-90k | 97 | 6.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 496 | 4.4% |
| 2022 | 554 | 5.2% |
| 2023 | 553 | 3.8% |
| 2024 | 533 | 2.6% |
| 2025 | 561 | 3.9% |
What to check before buying a Rolls-Royce Wraith
- 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.
- Lighting & signalling (0.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Other defects (0.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rolls-Royce Wraith?
96.0% of the 2,697 Rolls-Royce Wraith MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 4.0% fail rate, across model years 1984–2022.
What does the Rolls-Royce Wraith most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 2.3% of tests, then lighting & signalling (0.8%).
How much does mileage affect Wraith MOT results?
Fail rates run at 3.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 6.2% for 60-90k, a 2.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,697 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.