1986 Talbot Express# — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 345 MOT tests analysed for the 1986 Talbot Express#, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 66.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (80.7%).

Pass rate

345

MOT tests analysed

33.3%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

36.7

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1986 Talbot Express#
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Lighting & signalling	27.3%	94
2	Body, structure & corrosion	16.5%	57
3	Brakes	13.9%	48
4	Visibility	13.0%	45
5	Suspension	12.2%	42
6	Emissions & environmental	5.5%	19

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1986 Talbot Express#
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Headlamp	70
2	Component mounting prescribed areas	64
3	Position lamp	42
4	Headlamp aim	42
5	Wipers	33
6	Chassis condition	32

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1986 Talbot Express#
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Suspension	37.4%	129
2	Brakes	34.8%	120
3	Body, structure & corrosion	27.8%	96
4	Other defects	25.2%	87
5	Emissions & environmental	17.7%	61
6	Tyres	13.6%	47

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1986 Express#
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
30-60k	36	27.8%
60-90k	151	35.1%
90-120k	110	31.8%
120-150k	34	32.4%

By fuel type

Fail rate by fuel type — 1986 Express#
Fuel	Tests	Fail rate
Petrol	262	32.4%
Diesel	83	36.1%

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1986 Express#
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	82	37.8%
2022	84	35.7%
2023	69	33.3%
2024	61	27.9%
2025	49	28.6%

What to check before buying a 1986 Express#

Before buying a 1986 Talbot Express#, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 27.3% of tests for this year.

Lighting & signalling (27.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Body, structure & corrosion (16.5% 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 (13.9% 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

How many 1986 Talbot Express#s pass their MOT?

66.7% of the 345 1986 Talbot Express# MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1986 Talbot Express#?

Lighting & signalling, recorded in 27.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (16.5%).

Does the 1986 Express# get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.8% in the 30-60k band to 32.4% in the 120-150k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 345 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.