2000 TVR Chimaera — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2000 TVR Chimaera passed 89.5% of its 945 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (26.5% fail rate), the 2000 Chimaera comes out 16.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.7%) and brakes (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 37 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 9.2% in the 0-30k band and 22.8% in the 90-120k band, a 13.6-point spread — more than double.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 12.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.1% in 2021 to 8.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 54 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 27 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 25 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.6% | 15 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.2% | 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 | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 28 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 17 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 14 |
| 6 | Washers | 11 |
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 | 12.2% | 115 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.6% | 72 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 48 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.8% | 45 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.5% | 33 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.1% | 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 | 184 | 9.2% |
| 30-60k | 478 | 9.8% |
| 60-90k | 220 | 9.6% |
| 90-120k | 57 | 22.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 199 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 189 | 10.6% |
| 2023 | 194 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 182 | 12.1% |
| 2025 | 181 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a 2000 Chimaera
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2000 TVR Chimaeras pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 945 2000 TVR Chimaera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 TVR Chimaera?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by brakes (2.9%).
Does the 2000 Chimaera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.2% in the 0-30k band to 22.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 945 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.