1992 Talbot Express 1300 P — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Talbot Express 1300 P passed 73.7% of its 277 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 22.9% of the time, so this is 3.4pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 19.9% of all tests — 5.4 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, service brake performance and position lamp — headlamp alone was recorded 39 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Express 1300 P fails 30.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 32.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 36.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.4% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 19.9% | 55 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.4% | 40 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.9% | 33 |
| 4 | Visibility | 6.5% | 18 |
| 5 | Suspension | 4.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.0% | 11 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 39 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 31 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 21 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 5 | Rigid brake pipes | 16 |
| 6 | Wipers | 15 |
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 | 36.5% | 101 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.9% | 94 |
| 3 | Suspension | 31.1% | 86 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 20.9% | 58 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.3% | 45 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 39 |
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 | 100 | 30.0% |
| 60-90k | 129 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 32.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 58 | 24.1% |
| 2023 | 53 | 28.3% |
| 2024 | 55 | 27.3% |
| 2025 | 48 | 27.1% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Express 1300 P
On a 1992 Express 1300 P, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 19.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (19.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.4% 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 (11.9% 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 Ps pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 277 1992 Talbot Express 1300 P MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Talbot Express 1300 P?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 19.9% of tests, followed by brakes (14.4%).
Does the 1992 Express 1300 P get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.0% in the 30-60k band to 32.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 277 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.