Talbot Express 1500 D MOT pass rate & common failures
The Talbot Express 1500 D appears in 911 MOT tests spanning model years 1989–1996, and 70.4% of them passed. That is 6.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.1%. 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 22.3% of tests against 16.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and headlamp — service brake performance alone was recorded 113 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 26.2% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 31.9% once past 120-150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Express 1500 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 | 45 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 50 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 82 | 63.4% | 36.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 286 | 72.4% | 27.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 239 | 71.1% | 28.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 202 | 67.8% | 32.2% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 22.3% | 203 |
| 2 | Brakes | 16.5% | 150 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 113 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.8% | 71 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.0% | 64 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.4% | 31 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.9% | 26 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 113 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 97 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 86 |
| 4 | Joints | 62 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 57 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 48 |
| 7 | Washers | 43 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 42 |
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 | 38.1% | 347 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.8% | 290 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.5% | 232 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.5% | 141 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.2% | 129 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.1% | 128 |
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 | 225 | 26.2% |
| 60-90k | 420 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 202 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 47 | 31.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 193 | 29.5% |
| 2022 | 198 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 205 | 33.7% |
| 2024 | 153 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 162 | 29.6% |
What to check before buying a Talbot Express 1500 D
- Lighting & signalling (22.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (16.5% 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 (12.4% 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 1500 D?
70.4% of the 911 Talbot Express 1500 D MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 29.6% fail rate, across model years 1989–1996.
What does the Talbot Express 1500 D most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 22.3% of tests, then brakes (16.5%).
How much does mileage affect Express 1500 D MOT results?
Fail rates run at 26.2% for cars in the 30-60k band and 31.9% for 120-150k, a 5.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 911 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.