1981 Triumph Tr 7 — MOT failures & pass rate
698 MOT tests on the 1981 Triumph Tr 7 are in this dataset, and 84.0% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (17.2% fail rate), the 1981 Tr 7 comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (9.6%) and brakes (7.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, service brake performance and washers — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 44 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1981 Tr 7 fails 14.6% of the time in the 0-30k band and 13.6% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.0 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 16.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 18.9% in 2021 to 17.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 9.6% | 67 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 49 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 45 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.3% | 30 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 27 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.7% | 26 |
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 | 44 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 35 |
| 3 | Washers | 27 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 22 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 21 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 17 |
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 | 16.1% | 112 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 74 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.7% | 61 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.6% | 39 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 32 |
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 | 130 | 14.6% |
| 30-60k | 207 | 15.0% |
| 60-90k | 267 | 18.0% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 13.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 212 | 18.9% |
| 2022 | 164 | 12.8% |
| 2023 | 109 | 17.4% |
| 2024 | 109 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 104 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a 1981 Tr 7
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 9.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (9.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (7.0% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (6.5% 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
How many 1981 Triumph Tr 7s pass their MOT?
84.0% of the 698 1981 Triumph Tr 7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1981 Triumph Tr 7?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by brakes (7.0%).
Does the 1981 Tr 7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.6% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 698 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.