2011 Bentley Continental — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,985 MOT tests analysed for the 2011 Bentley Continental, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 92.3% was above the average for cars of a similar age (78.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 12.5% in the 90-120k group versus 5.7% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 3.0% | 91 |
| 2 | Tyres | 2.4% | 70 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 50 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 46 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.4% | 43 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.0% | 29 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registration plates | 53 |
| 2 | Malfunction indicator lamp | 44 |
| 3 | Washers | 42 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 18 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 17 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 12.5% | 373 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.3% | 219 |
| 3 | Suspension | 2.8% | 84 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.1% | 62 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 39 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.3% | 38 |
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 | 814 | 5.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,533 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 529 | 8.7% |
| 90-120k | 88 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 615 | 6.3% |
| 2022 | 615 | 8.3% |
| 2023 | 603 | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 580 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 572 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Continental
Before buying a 2011 Bentley Continental, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 3.0% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (3.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (2.4% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Emissions & environmental (1.7% 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 2011 Bentley Continentals pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 2,985 2011 Bentley Continental MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Bentley Continental?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 3.0% of tests, followed by tyres (2.4%).
Does the 2011 Continental get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.7% in the 0-30k band to 12.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,985 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.