1991 Talbot Express# — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,713 MOT tests, the 1991 Talbot Express# recorded a 67.3% pass rate. That is 10.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.4%. Failures cluster in 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 16.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 773 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.7% versus 24.3%.
Fuel type barely separates them — diesel fails 32.4% of the time against 32.9% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 38.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 25.0% | 1,180 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 771 |
| 3 | Brakes | 16.2% | 764 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 452 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.3% | 393 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 184 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 773 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 585 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 551 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 497 |
| 5 | Joints | 367 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 334 |
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 | 38.8% | 1,827 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.7% | 1,775 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 32.3% | 1,521 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 18.8% | 887 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 14.4% | 680 |
| 6 | Tyres | 14.3% | 675 |
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 | 37 | 24.3% |
| 30-60k | 825 | 29.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,271 | 32.1% |
| 90-120k | 1,147 | 33.9% |
| 120-150k | 319 | 40.8% |
| 150k+ | 110 | 32.7% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 2,434 | 32.4% |
| Petrol | 2,268 | 32.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,074 | 33.0% |
| 2022 | 1,026 | 32.1% |
| 2023 | 972 | 32.9% |
| 2024 | 885 | 32.7% |
| 2025 | 756 | 32.9% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Express#
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 25.0% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (16.4% 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+.
- Brakes (16.2% 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 1991 Talbot Express#s pass their MOT?
67.3% of the 4,713 1991 Talbot Express# MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 32.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Talbot Express#?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 25.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (16.4%).
Does the 1991 Express# get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.3% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,713 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.