TVR Griffith MOT pass rate & common failures
2,279 MOT tests on the TVR Griffith (1992–2019) give it a 90.8% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.1% fail rate), the Griffith comes out 14.9pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.8%) and emissions & environmental (4.2%) 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 non catalyst emissions — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 110 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.2% in the 0-30k band and 10.7% in the 90-120k band, a 5.5-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 9.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.5% in 2021 to 8.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Griffith model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 1,009 | 89.0% | 11.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 80 | 86.3% | 13.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 164 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 141 | 94.3% | 5.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 213 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 149 | 92.6% | 7.4% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 221 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1999 | 154 | 94.2% | 5.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 56 | 96.4% | 3.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 53 | 98.1% | 1.9% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.8% | 131 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 96 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.5% | 57 |
| 4 | Brakes | 1.3% | 30 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 30 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.0% | 22 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.7% | 16 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.5% | 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 | 110 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 54 |
| 3 | Non catalyst emissions | 40 |
| 4 | Washers | 38 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 33 |
| 6 | Wipers | 22 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 21 |
| 8 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 20 |
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 | 9.2% | 210 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.8% | 132 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 122 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.7% | 108 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 87 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.6% | 60 |
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 | 327 | 5.2% |
| 30-60k | 1,098 | 9.1% |
| 60-90k | 690 | 9.9% |
| 90-120k | 122 | 10.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 483 | 9.5% |
| 2022 | 476 | 9.7% |
| 2023 | 448 | 8.5% |
| 2024 | 432 | 10.2% |
| 2025 | 440 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a TVR Griffith
- Lighting & signalling (5.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (4.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Visibility (2.5% 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?
90.8% of the 2,279 TVR Griffith MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.2% fail rate, across model years 1992–2019.
What does the TVR Griffith most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.8% of tests, then emissions & environmental (4.2%).
How much does mileage affect Griffith MOT results?
Fail rates run at 5.2% for cars in the 0-30k band and 10.7% for 90-120k, a 5.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,279 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.