TVR Cerbera MOT pass rate & common failures
2,432 MOT tests on the TVR Cerbera (1988–2021) give it an 88.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.9% fail rate), the Cerbera comes out 14.3pp better. Its most common failure areas are emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (6.4%) and lighting & signalling (5.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, washers and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 223 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 8.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 19.2% once past 90-120k — 2.3× the risk.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.8% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cerbera model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 182 | 87.4% | 12.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 507 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 538 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1999 | 440 | 87.9% | 12.0% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2000 | 224 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 228 | 87.3% | 12.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2002 | 152 | 86.8% | 13.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 87 | 95.4% | 4.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 52 | 88.5% | 11.5% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 6.4% | 155 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 124 |
| 3 | Visibility | 4.4% | 106 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.8% | 93 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.9% | 47 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.3% | 32 |
| 7 | Other defects | 1.0% | 24 |
| 8 | Steering | 1.0% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 223 |
| 2 | Washers | 93 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 74 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 65 |
| 5 | Emissions not tested | 42 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 37 |
| 7 | Wipers | 35 |
| 8 | Registration plates | 31 |
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 | 6.2% | 150 |
| 2 | Tyres | 5.3% | 128 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.8% | 116 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.2% | 103 |
| 5 | Brakes | 3.9% | 95 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.6% | 63 |
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 | 411 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,459 | 12.3% |
| 60-90k | 502 | 11.3% |
| 90-120k | 52 | 19.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 507 | 12.8% |
| 2022 | 530 | 14.1% |
| 2023 | 491 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 469 | 10.9% |
| 2025 | 435 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a TVR Cerbera
- Emissions & environmental (6.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (5.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the TVR Cerbera?
88.4% of the 2,432 TVR Cerbera MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 11.6% fail rate, across model years 1988–2021.
What does the TVR Cerbera most often fail its MOT on?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 6.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (5.1%).
How much does mileage affect Cerbera MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 19.2% for 90-120k, a 11.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,432 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.