Talbot Express 1300 D MOT pass rate & common failures
3,106 MOT tests on the Talbot Express 1300 D (1984–1995) give it a 69.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.1% fail rate), the Express 1300 D comes out 7.2pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.8% of tests against 14.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 341 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 30.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 45.5% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Express 1300 D model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 60 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 234 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 286 | 69.2% | 30.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 904 | 68.6% | 31.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 878 | 70.6% | 29.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 681 | 70.9% | 29.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 33 | 75.8% | 24.2% | Body, structure & corrosion |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.8% | 740 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.2% | 441 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.1% | 407 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.7% | 239 |
| 5 | Visibility | 7.7% | 238 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 105 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.1% | 95 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.3% | 71 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 341 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 335 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 324 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 236 |
| 5 | Joints | 226 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 185 |
| 7 | Wipers | 166 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 137 |
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 | 39.1% | 1,213 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.9% | 1,178 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 27.1% | 842 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.2% | 533 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.5% | 481 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.1% | 439 |
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 | 36 | 30.6% |
| 30-60k | 620 | 26.1% |
| 60-90k | 1,416 | 31.1% |
| 90-120k | 839 | 30.8% |
| 120-150k | 148 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 44 | 45.5% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 3,076 | 30.1% |
| Petrol | 30 | 43.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 685 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 669 | 29.9% |
| 2023 | 627 | 28.7% |
| 2024 | 601 | 32.3% |
| 2025 | 524 | 30.9% |
What to check before buying a Talbot Express 1300 D
- Lighting & signalling (23.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.2% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.1% 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+.
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 Talbot Express 1300 D?
69.8% of the 3,106 Talbot Express 1300 D MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.2% fail rate, across model years 1984–1995.
What does the Talbot Express 1300 D most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.8% of tests, then brakes (14.2%).
How much does mileage affect Express 1300 D MOT results?
Fail rates run at 30.6% for cars in the 0-30k band and 45.5% for 150k+, a 14.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,106 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.