1980 Triumph Dolomite — MOT failures & pass rate
267 MOT tests on the 1980 Triumph Dolomite are in this dataset, and 82.8% of them passed. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 16.1%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.7%) and emissions & environmental (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and washers — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 19 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 22.3% once past 60-90k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 12.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 20.3% in 2021 to 14.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 26 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 7.5% | 20 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.6% | 15 |
| 4 | Steering | 4.9% | 13 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Suspension | 3.8% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 19 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 3 | Washers | 14 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 9 |
| 5 | Ball joint dust cover | 8 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 7 |
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 | 12.7% | 34 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 33 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.1% | 19 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 14 |
| 5 | Other defects | 5.2% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.9% | 13 |
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 | 74 | 12.2% |
| 30-60k | 78 | 19.2% |
| 60-90k | 94 | 22.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 20.3% |
| 2022 | 56 | 16.1% |
| 2023 | 53 | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 40 | 15.0% |
| 2025 | 49 | 14.3% |
What to check before buying a 1980 Dolomite
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (7.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (5.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 1980 Triumph Dolomites pass their MOT?
82.8% of the 267 1980 Triumph Dolomite MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1980 Triumph Dolomite?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (7.5%).
Does the 1980 Dolomite get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 267 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.