1992 Talbot Express 1300 D — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Talbot Express 1300 D passed 68.6% of its 904 recorded MOT tests. That is 8.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 25.2% of all tests — 9.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, service brake performance and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 116 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 32.8% versus 26.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 30.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 33.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.2% | 228 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.5% | 140 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 125 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.2% | 65 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.6% | 60 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.3% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 116 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 112 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 105 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 87 |
| 5 | Joints | 62 |
| 6 | Wipers | 53 |
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 | 39.7% | 359 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.1% | 326 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 26.3% | 238 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.2% | 146 |
| 5 | Tyres | 15.3% | 138 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 135 |
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 | 195 | 26.7% |
| 60-90k | 372 | 31.7% |
| 90-120k | 252 | 32.9% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 32.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 194 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 188 | 27.7% |
| 2023 | 187 | 31.0% |
| 2024 | 180 | 34.4% |
| 2025 | 155 | 33.6% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Express 1300 D
On a 1992 Express 1300 D, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 25.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (25.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (13.8% 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
How many 1992 Talbot Express 1300 Ds pass their MOT?
68.6% of the 904 1992 Talbot Express 1300 D MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Talbot Express 1300 D?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.2% of tests, followed by brakes (15.5%).
Does the 1992 Express 1300 D get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.7% in the 30-60k band to 32.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 904 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.