1993 Talbot Express 1300 D — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 878 MOT tests analysed for the 1993 Talbot Express 1300 D, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 70.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (77.7%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 24.4% | 214 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.2% | 116 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 105 |
| 4 | Visibility | 7.4% | 65 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.2% | 63 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.9% | 34 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 87 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 85 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 82 |
| 4 | Joints | 60 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 55 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 53 |
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 | 38.8% | 341 |
| 2 | Suspension | 36.2% | 318 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 29.4% | 258 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 16.3% | 143 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.0% | 140 |
| 6 | Tyres | 12.1% | 106 |
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 | 160 | 28.1% |
| 60-90k | 451 | 29.9% |
| 90-120k | 210 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 38 | 15.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 195 | 32.3% |
| 2022 | 197 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 170 | 25.3% |
| 2024 | 170 | 28.8% |
| 2025 | 146 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Express 1300 D
Before buying a 1993 Talbot Express 1300 D, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 24.4% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (24.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.2% 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 (12.0% 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 1993 Talbot Express 1300 Ds pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 878 1993 Talbot Express 1300 D MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Talbot Express 1300 D?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 24.4% of tests, followed by brakes (13.2%).
Does the 1993 Express 1300 D get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 28.1% in the 30-60k band to 15.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 878 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.