TVR Griffith 500 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 27 model years and 2,492 tests, the TVR Griffith 500 passes its MOT 91.7% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 25.2% of the time, so this is 16.9pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.1%) and emissions & environmental (2.6%) 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 102 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Griffith 500 fails 8.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 10.8% at 90-120k, a spread of only 2.0 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 9.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every Griffith 500 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 32 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1993 | 49 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 208 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 355 | 90.7% | 9.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 365 | 94.3% | 5.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 398 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 385 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 342 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 133 | 94.0% | 6.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 131 | 91.6% | 8.4% | Visibility |
| 2002 | 74 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.1% | 128 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 64 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 55 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.9% | 47 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.6% | 39 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.0% | 26 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.9% | 23 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.7% | 17 |
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 | 102 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 46 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 42 |
| 4 | Washers | 37 |
| 5 | Registration plates | 28 |
| 6 | Wipers | 28 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 20 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 19 |
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 | 9.8% | 245 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.8% | 169 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.1% | 127 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.0% | 100 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.5% | 87 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.4% | 85 |
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 | 510 | 8.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,273 | 7.9% |
| 60-90k | 574 | 8.2% |
| 90-120k | 111 | 10.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 515 | 9.1% |
| 2022 | 502 | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 511 | 7.6% |
| 2024 | 487 | 9.7% |
| 2025 | 477 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a TVR Griffith 500
- 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.
- 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.
- Visibility (2.2% 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 Griffith 500?
91.7% of the 2,492 TVR Griffith 500 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.3% fail rate, across model years 1992–2018.
What does the TVR Griffith 500 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.1% of tests, then emissions & environmental (2.6%).
How much does mileage affect Griffith 500 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.8% for 90-120k, a 2.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,492 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.