1982 Triumph Tr-7 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 575 MOT tests analysed for the 1982 Triumph Tr-7, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes. Its pass rate of 81.2% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (81.7%).

Pass rate

575

MOT tests analysed

18.8%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

40.1

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1982 Triumph Tr-7
#	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

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1982 Triumph Tr-7
#	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.

Most common MOT advisories — 1982 Triumph Tr-7
#	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.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1982 Tr-7
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

Fail rate by dataset year — 1982 Tr-7
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

Before buying a 1982 Triumph Tr-7, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.3% of tests for this year.

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 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.