Triumph Dolomite MOT pass rate & common failures
The Triumph Dolomite appears in 409 MOT tests spanning model years 1980–1990, and 80.9% of them passed. That is 2.5 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.6%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.3%) and brakes (7.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp aim and non catalyst emissions — washers alone was recorded 25 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.1% versus 17.3%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 14.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.3% in 2021 to 18.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Dolomite model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 267 | 82.8% | 17.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1981 | 130 | 80.0% | 20.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 38 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 30 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.4% | 26 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 25 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.9% | 24 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.7% | 19 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.7% | 11 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.0% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 24 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 24 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 12 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 12 |
| 7 | Ball joint dust cover | 10 |
| 8 | Service brake imbalance | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 14.4% | 59 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.2% | 58 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 29 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.1% | 29 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.6% | 27 |
| 6 | Steering | 6.4% | 26 |
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 | 98 | 17.3% |
| 30-60k | 136 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 139 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 11.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 122 | 21.3% |
| 2022 | 83 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 73 | 19.2% |
| 2024 | 62 | 17.7% |
| 2025 | 69 | 18.8% |
What to check before buying a Triumph Dolomite
- Lighting & signalling (9.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.3% 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.
- Suspension (6.4% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 Triumph Dolomite?
80.9% of the 409 Triumph Dolomite MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.1% fail rate, across model years 1980–1990.
What does the Triumph Dolomite most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.3% of tests, then brakes (7.3%).
How much does mileage affect Dolomite MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.1% for 90-120k, a 6.2-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 409 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.