Talbot Express 1300 P MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 14 model years and 2,708 tests, the Talbot Express 1300 P passes its MOT 69.8% of the time. That is 8.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.0%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.6% of tests against 15.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, headlamp aim and service brake performance — headlamp alone was recorded 409 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 29.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.0% once past 120-150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 39.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.6% in 2021 to 28.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Express 1300 P model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 349 | 63.0% | 37.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 591 | 70.0% | 29.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 675 | 69.9% | 30.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 580 | 70.2% | 29.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 277 | 73.7% | 26.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 127 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 97 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.6% | 666 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.8% | 427 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.0% | 406 |
| 4 | Visibility | 8.3% | 225 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.1% | 218 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 163 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.5% | 96 |
| 8 | Tyres | 3.4% | 92 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 409 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 359 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 265 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 224 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 210 |
| 6 | Joints | 196 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 172 |
| 8 | Wipers | 158 |
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 | 39.5% | 1,069 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.2% | 1,035 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 31.1% | 841 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.2% | 520 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 391 |
| 6 | Tyres | 13.3% | 361 |
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 | 37 | 29.7% |
| 30-60k | 780 | 29.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,337 | 29.2% |
| 90-120k | 452 | 33.0% |
| 120-150k | 81 | 37.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,641 | 30.2% |
| Diesel | 67 | 32.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 647 | 30.6% |
| 2022 | 604 | 30.8% |
| 2023 | 538 | 30.7% |
| 2024 | 476 | 30.0% |
| 2025 | 443 | 28.7% |
What to check before buying a Talbot Express 1300 P
- Lighting & signalling (24.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.8% 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+.
- Brakes (15.0% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Talbot Express 1300 P?
69.8% of the 2,708 Talbot Express 1300 P MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 30.2% fail rate, across model years 1983–1996.
What does the Talbot Express 1300 P most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.6% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (15.8%).
How much does mileage affect Express 1300 P MOT results?
Fail rates run at 29.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 37.0% for 120-150k, a 7.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,708 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.