1991 TVR 290 S — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 TVR 290 S passed 89.8% of its 334 recorded MOT tests. That is 12.1 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 22.3%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 9.6% of all tests — 5.7 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and service brake performance — headlamp aim alone was recorded 9 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 19.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 7.8% once past 90-120k.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.5% in 2021 to 7.8% 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% | 32 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 13 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.0% | 10 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 7 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 6 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 9 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 4 | Washers | 7 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 6 |
| 6 | Wipers | 6 |
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 | 7.2% | 24 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 19 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 19 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.4% | 18 |
| 5 | Steering | 5.1% | 17 |
| 6 | Brakes | 4.5% | 15 |
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 | 31 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 99 | 10.1% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 9.5% |
| 90-120k | 51 | 7.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 74 | 13.5% |
| 2022 | 65 | 10.8% |
| 2023 | 67 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 64 | 9.4% |
| 2025 | 64 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 1991 290 S
On a 1991 290 S, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 9.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 (3.9% 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.
- Visibility (3.0% 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 1991 TVR 290 Ss pass their MOT?
89.8% of the 334 1991 TVR 290 S MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 TVR 290 S?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 9.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 1991 290 S get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 7.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 334 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.