1990 Talbot Express 1300 P — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 675 MOT tests analysed for the 1990 Talbot Express 1300 P, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 69.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (79.1%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 26.2% | 177 |
| 2 | Brakes | 15.7% | 106 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.2% | 96 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.5% | 64 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.0% | 47 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 44 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 108 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 108 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 64 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 59 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 54 |
| 6 | Individual direction indicators | 52 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 43.7% | 295 |
| 2 | Brakes | 38.1% | 257 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.5% | 199 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.8% | 127 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 110 |
| 6 | Tyres | 12.6% | 85 |
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 | 185 | 31.4% |
| 60-90k | 351 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 107 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 171 | 33.9% |
| 2022 | 149 | 28.9% |
| 2023 | 140 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 107 | 26.2% |
| 2025 | 108 | 26.9% |
What to check before buying a 1990 Express 1300 P
Before buying a 1990 Talbot Express 1300 P, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 26.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (26.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.7% 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 (14.2% 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 1990 Talbot Express 1300 Ps pass their MOT?
69.9% of the 675 1990 Talbot Express 1300 P MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1990 Talbot Express 1300 P?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 26.2% of tests, followed by brakes (15.7%).
Does the 1990 Express 1300 P get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.4% in the 30-60k band to 29.9% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 675 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.