1991 Talbot Express 1300 D — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 286 MOT tests analysed for the 1991 Talbot Express 1300 D, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 69.2% was below the average for cars of a similar age (78.6%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 33.0% in the 90-120k group versus 27.9% in the 30-60k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 26.9% | 77 |
| 2 | Brakes | 17.8% | 51 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.4% | 44 |
| 4 | Visibility | 10.5% | 30 |
| 5 | Suspension | 9.1% | 26 |
| 6 | Tyres | 2.8% | 8 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 36 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 35 |
| 3 | Joints | 28 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 28 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 27 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 23 |
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 | 49.3% | 141 |
| 2 | Suspension | 41.6% | 119 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 25.5% | 73 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 44 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 43 |
| 6 | Tyres | 11.2% | 32 |
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 | 43 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 124 | 28.2% |
| 90-120k | 91 | 33.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 31.4% |
| 2022 | 63 | 30.2% |
| 2023 | 52 | 30.8% |
| 2024 | 54 | 35.2% |
| 2025 | 47 | 25.5% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Express 1300 D
Before buying a 1991 Talbot Express 1300 D, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 26.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (26.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (17.8% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (15.4% 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+.
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 1991 Talbot Express 1300 Ds pass their MOT?
69.2% of the 286 1991 Talbot Express 1300 D MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Talbot Express 1300 D?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 26.9% of tests, followed by brakes (17.8%).
Does the 1991 Express 1300 D get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.9% in the 30-60k band to 33.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 286 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.