Triumph Tr 7 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 42 model years and 1,820 tests, the Triumph Tr 7 passes its MOT 82.4% of the time. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (17.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 10.9% of all tests — 3.5 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, service brake performance and service brake imbalance — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 129 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Tr 7 fails 18.4% of the time in the 0-30k band and 17.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 17.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 21.1% in 2021 to 18.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Tr 7 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 492 | 80.9% | 19.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1981 | 698 | 84.0% | 16.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1982 | 575 | 81.2% | 18.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 198 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.4% | 135 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.3% | 133 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 82 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.4% | 80 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.1% | 74 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 39 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.9% | 16 |
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 | 129 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 99 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 64 |
| 4 | Washers | 61 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 59 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 58 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 53 |
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 | 17.9% | 325 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 12.6% | 230 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 157 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.5% | 118 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.7% | 103 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.6% | 102 |
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 | 463 | 18.4% |
| 30-60k | 494 | 14.6% |
| 60-90k | 651 | 19.4% |
| 90-120k | 188 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 650 | 21.1% |
| 2022 | 383 | 13.8% |
| 2023 | 288 | 17.7% |
| 2024 | 259 | 13.9% |
| 2025 | 240 | 18.3% |
What to check before buying a Triumph Tr 7
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (7.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 Tr 7?
82.4% of the 1,820 Triumph Tr 7 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 17.6% fail rate, across model years 1980–2021.
What does the Triumph Tr 7 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, then brakes (7.4%).
How much does mileage affect Tr 7 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.4% for cars in the 0-30k band and 17.5% for 90-120k, a 0.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,820 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.