2001 TVR Chimaera — MOT failures & pass rate
253 MOT tests on the 2001 TVR Chimaera are in this dataset, and 92.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (27.0% fail rate), the 2001 Chimaera comes out 19.5pp better. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (3.6%) and lighting & signalling (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, bonnet and individual direction indicators — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 10 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 11.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.5% in 2021 to 4.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 9 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 8 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.4% | 6 |
| 4 | Brakes | 0.8% | 2 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.8% | 2 |
| 6 | Other defects | 0.4% | 1 |
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 | 10 |
| 2 | Bonnet | 4 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 3 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 3 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 2 |
| 6 | Emissions not tested | 2 |
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 | 11.9% | 30 |
| 2 | Suspension | 8.7% | 22 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.5% | 14 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.3% | 11 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 6 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.4% | 6 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 176 | 6.8% |
| 60-90k | 57 | 10.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 14.5% |
| 2022 | 52 | 7.7% |
| 2023 | 51 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 49 | 4.1% |
| 2025 | 46 | 4.3% |
What to check before buying a 2001 Chimaera
On a 2001 Chimaera, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.6% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (3.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.4% 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
How many 2001 TVR Chimaeras pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 253 2001 TVR Chimaera MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 TVR Chimaera?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 3.6% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2001 Chimaera get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 30-60k band to 10.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 253 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.