Talbot Express# MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 34 model years and 27,791 tests, the Talbot Express# passes its MOT 67.7% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (22.6% fail rate), the Express# comes out 9.7pp worse. 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 25.0% of tests against 16.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 3,981 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 28.1% in the 0-30k band and 32.6% in the 150k+ band, a 4.5-point spread.
The diesel cars hold up better: 31.5% fail against 33.0% for petrol, a 1.5-point gap across 27,763 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every Express# model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 33 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1984 | 55 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 176 | 60.8% | 39.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 345 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 538 | 64.5% | 35.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 1,070 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 2,882 | 66.2% | 33.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 4,023 | 68.5% | 31.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 4,713 | 67.3% | 32.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 4,956 | 68.9% | 31.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 5,187 | 68.4% | 31.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 3,618 | 67.4% | 32.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 87 | 62.1% | 37.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.0% | 6,947 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 4,433 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.0% | 4,163 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.5% | 2,907 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.6% | 2,404 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 1,248 |
| 7 | Steering | 3.3% | 927 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.0% | 824 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 3,981 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 3,805 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 3,221 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 2,680 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 2,179 |
| 6 | Joints | 2,025 |
| 7 | Wipers | 1,734 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 1,662 |
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 | 38.0% | 10,561 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.8% | 10,216 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.9% | 8,299 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.3% | 5,094 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.9% | 4,156 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.4% | 4,000 |
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 | 267 | 28.1% |
| 30-60k | 5,302 | 29.6% |
| 60-90k | 12,624 | 31.9% |
| 90-120k | 7,306 | 34.2% |
| 120-150k | 1,857 | 34.9% |
| 150k+ | 414 | 32.6% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 14,448 | 33.0% |
| Diesel | 13,315 | 31.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,433 | 32.7% |
| 2022 | 6,034 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 5,622 | 32.1% |
| 2024 | 5,094 | 32.0% |
| 2025 | 4,608 | 32.1% |
What to check before buying a Talbot Express#
- Lighting & signalling (25.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (16.0% 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#?
67.7% of the 27,791 Talbot Express# MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 32.3% fail rate, across model years 1983–2016.
What does the Talbot Express# most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.0% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (16.0%).
How much does mileage affect Express# MOT results?
Fail rates run at 28.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 32.6% for 150k+, a 4.5-point difference.
Is the diesel or petrol Express# more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the diesel fails 31.5% of the time against 33.0% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 27,791 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.