Know Your MOT
15.9%fail rate

Triumph 1200 common MOT failures and failure rate

What a Triumph 1200 fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 246 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 15.9% of MOT tests recorded on the Triumph 1200 in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is brakes, which makes up 33.3% of the Triumph 1200's failures, followed by brakes, lamps & electrical, other, seat belts. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Brakes33.3% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Lamps & electrical25.6% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Other20.5% of failures

This covers a range of smaller items, from a non-working horn to a warning light left on.

Seat belts17.9% of failures

Seat-belt failures are frays, cuts, corroded anchorages, or a belt that will not lock under a sharp pull or retract properly.

Suspension15.4% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Steering15.4% of failures

Steering faults are typically worn track-rod ends or ball joints, play in the rack, or a split gaiter letting grease out and dirt in. Excessive free play at the wheel fails.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the brakes failure: Triumph 1200 brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for Triumph 1200 brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind Triumph 1200 brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the lamps & electrical failure: Triumph 1200 headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for Triumph 1200 headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind Triumph 1200 headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the seat belts failure: Triumph 1200 seat beltsSearch Amazon for Triumph 1200 seat beltsaffiliate searchFind Triumph 1200 seat belts on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: Triumph 1200 suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for Triumph 1200 suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind Triumph 1200 suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the steering failure: Triumph 1200 steering track rod endsSearch Amazon for Triumph 1200 steering track rod endsaffiliate searchFind Triumph 1200 steering track rod ends on eBayaffiliate

Other models

Triumph Bonneville MOT failures9.8% failure rateTriumph Tiger MOT failures9.2% failure rateTriumph Sprint MOT failures12.6% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain