1993 TVR Chimaera — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 620 MOT tests, the 1993 TVR Chimaera recorded an 83.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 23.4% of the time, so this is 6.8pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests against 5.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and rbt (sp) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 59 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.5% once past 90-120k.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 12.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 14.8% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.8% | 67 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 36 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 34 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 22 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.1% | 13 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.8% | 11 |
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 | 59 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 27 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 5 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 15 |
| 6 | Washers | 13 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 77 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.8% | 67 |
| 3 | Brakes | 6.5% | 40 |
| 4 | Steering | 5.5% | 34 |
| 5 | Tyres | 5.0% | 31 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.7% | 29 |
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 | 80 | 21.3% |
| 30-60k | 241 | 16.6% |
| 60-90k | 209 | 14.8% |
| 90-120k | 79 | 16.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 135 | 14.8% |
| 2022 | 133 | 19.6% |
| 2023 | 122 | 15.6% |
| 2024 | 119 | 14.3% |
| 2025 | 111 | 18.9% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Chimaera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 10.8% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (10.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (5.8% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (5.5% 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 1993 TVR Chimaeras pass their MOT?
83.4% of the 620 1993 TVR Chimaera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 TVR Chimaera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.8% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (5.8%).
Does the 1993 Chimaera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.3% in the 0-30k band to 16.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 620 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.