1992 Talbot Express# — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,956 MOT tests, the 1992 Talbot Express# recorded a 68.9% pass rate. That is 8.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.9%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 23.8% of all tests — 8.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — headlamp alone was recorded 684 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.3% in the 0-30k band and 36.1% in the 150k+ band, a 22.7-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 2.1pp more often than diesel ones (32.1% vs 30.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 38.7% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 23.8% | 1,181 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 759 |
| 3 | Brakes | 14.0% | 694 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.3% | 462 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.2% | 404 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 240 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 684 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 556 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 466 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 441 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 365 |
| 6 | Joints | 359 |
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 | 38.7% | 1,920 |
| 2 | Suspension | 35.1% | 1,739 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 28.9% | 1,434 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 17.9% | 888 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.8% | 683 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 643 |
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 | 30 | 13.3% |
| 30-60k | 993 | 28.4% |
| 60-90k | 2,413 | 31.5% |
| 90-120k | 1,160 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 292 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 61 | 36.1% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,714 | 32.1% |
| Diesel | 2,236 | 30.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,142 | 31.6% |
| 2022 | 1,062 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 972 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 938 | 32.1% |
| 2025 | 842 | 30.8% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Express#
On a 1992 Express#, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 23.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (23.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.3% 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 (14.0% 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
How many 1992 Talbot Express#s pass their MOT?
68.9% of the 4,956 1992 Talbot Express# MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 31.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Talbot Express#?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 23.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (15.3%).
Does the 1992 Express# get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.3% in the 0-30k band to 36.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,956 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.