1982 Triumph Tr 7 — MOT failures & pass rate
575 MOT tests on the 1982 Triumph Tr 7 are in this dataset, and 81.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail at 18.7%, so the 1982 Tr 7 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.3%) and emissions & environmental (8.3%) 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 service brake imbalance — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1982 Tr 7 fails 19.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 16.3% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 16.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.7% in 2021 to 20.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 65 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 8.3% | 48 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 45 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.7% | 27 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.8% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.3% | 19 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 3 | Service brake imbalance | 31 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
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 | 16.2% | 93 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.1% | 64 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.9% | 51 |
| 4 | Steering | 6.6% | 38 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.1% | 35 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 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 | 147 | 19.1% |
| 30-60k | 157 | 15.9% |
| 60-90k | 211 | 21.3% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 16.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 273 | 22.7% |
| 2022 | 119 | 16.8% |
| 2023 | 76 | 15.8% |
| 2024 | 53 | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 54 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 1982 Tr 7
On a 1982 Tr 7, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (8.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (7.8% 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 1982 Triumph Tr 7s pass their MOT?
81.2% of the 575 1982 Triumph Tr 7 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1982 Triumph Tr 7?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.3% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (8.3%).
Does the 1982 Tr 7 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.1% in the 0-30k band to 16.3% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 575 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.