1989 Talbot Express 1000 P — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 259 MOT tests analysed for the 1989 Talbot Express 1000 P, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 65.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (79.6%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 32.4% | 84 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 47 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.5% | 35 |
| 4 | Suspension | 12.7% | 33 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.7% | 25 |
| 6 | Visibility | 9.3% | 24 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 73 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 38 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 32 |
| 5 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 31 |
| 6 | Chassis condition | 26 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 36.3% | 94 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 33.2% | 86 |
| 3 | Suspension | 31.7% | 82 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.7% | 38 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 33 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.4% | 27 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 60-90k | 97 | 33.0% |
| 90-120k | 109 | 36.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 68 | 33.8% |
| 2022 | 57 | 35.1% |
| 2023 | 56 | 39.3% |
| 2024 | 41 | 29.3% |
| 2025 | 37 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a 1989 Express 1000 P
Before buying a 1989 Talbot Express 1000 P, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 32.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (32.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (18.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Brakes (13.5% 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.
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 1989 Talbot Express 1000 Ps pass their MOT?
65.6% of the 259 1989 Talbot Express 1000 P MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 34.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1989 Talbot Express 1000 P?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 32.4% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (18.1%).
Does the 1989 Express 1000 P get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 33.0% in the 60-90k band to 36.7% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 259 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.