1992 Talbot Express 1500 D — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1992 Talbot Express 1500 D passed 72.4% of its 286 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (22.9% fail rate), the 1992 Express 1500 D comes out 4.7pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 21.0% of all tests — 6.3 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 32 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 23.9% of 30-60k cars fail, rising to 30.8% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 39.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.8% in 2021 to 22.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 21.0% | 60 |
| 2 | Brakes | 14.7% | 42 |
| 3 | Visibility | 9.8% | 28 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 27 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.0% | 20 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.1% | 9 |
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 | 32 |
| 2 | Headlamp | 24 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 20 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 19 |
| 5 | Wipers | 18 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 16 |
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 | 39.2% | 112 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.4% | 87 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.9% | 74 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.5% | 50 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.3% | 38 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 11.2% | 32 |
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 | 113 | 23.9% |
| 60-90k | 87 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 30.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 26.8% |
| 2022 | 68 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 64 | 31.3% |
| 2024 | 50 | 26.0% |
| 2025 | 48 | 22.9% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Express 1500 D
On a 1992 Express 1500 D, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 21.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (21.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (14.7% 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.
- Visibility (9.8% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 1500 Ds pass their MOT?
72.4% of the 286 1992 Talbot Express 1500 D MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Talbot Express 1500 D?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 21.0% of tests, followed by brakes (14.7%).
Does the 1992 Express 1500 D get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.9% in the 30-60k band to 30.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 286 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.