1991 Talbot Express 1000 P — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 425 MOT tests, the 1991 Talbot Express 1000 P recorded a 67.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (22.4% fail rate), the 1991 Express 1000 P comes out 9.9pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 25.7% of all tests — 10.1 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 86 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 33.3% versus 29.1%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 43.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 34.0% in 2021 to 29.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.7% | 109 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.5% | 66 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.9% | 59 |
| 4 | Suspension | 11.3% | 48 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.3% | 27 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 22 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 86 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 75 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 47 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 37 |
| 5 | Joints | 33 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 33 |
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 | 43.5% | 185 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.9% | 157 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.9% | 123 |
| 4 | Tyres | 19.1% | 81 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 18.4% | 78 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 46 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 55 | 29.1% |
| 60-90k | 193 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 141 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 103 | 34.0% |
| 2022 | 94 | 33.0% |
| 2023 | 81 | 30.9% |
| 2024 | 82 | 32.9% |
| 2025 | 65 | 29.2% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Express 1000 P
On a 1991 Express 1000 P, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 25.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (25.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.5% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (13.9% 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.
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 1991 Talbot Express 1000 Ps pass their MOT?
67.8% of the 425 1991 Talbot Express 1000 P MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Talbot Express 1000 P?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (15.5%).
Does the 1991 Express 1000 P get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.1% in the 30-60k band to 33.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 425 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.