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Ac Cobra Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Ac Cobra reliable? We analysed 9,973 real MOT tests across 880 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 9,973 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.7%
Typical Mileage
9,121mi
Annual Mileage
294mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
62yrs

The Ac Cobra is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ac Cobra.

Ac Cobra Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ac Cobra. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ac Cobra MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ac Cobra to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

91%
2011
81.7%
2010
89.7%
2009
91%
2008
85.9%
2007
86.3%
2006
83.4%
2005
87.9%
2004
88.8%
2003
84%
2002
87.2%
2001
87.2%
2000
88.7%
1999
86%
1998
88.4%
1997
89.2%
1996
89.1%
1995
86.4%
1994
85.6%
1993
88.7%
1992

Ac Cobra Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ac Cobra fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 149
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 117
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 89
Stop lamp not working 89
parking brake recording little or no effort 87
brake binding 70
Horn not working 66
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 62
Steering rack gaiter split 61
Headlamp not working on main beam 60

Ac Cobra Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ac Cobra owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
100 mi/yr
Typical
294 mi/yr
Average
964 mi/yr
Heavy usage
739 mi/yr

Ac Cobra MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ac Cobra year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2011 100 91.0% 2,906 4,847 9,056
2010 120 81.7% 3,424 4,602 7,481
2009 136 89.7% 2,425 3,804 7,228
2008 201 91.0% 2,091 4,811 8,177
2007 192 85.9% 2,358 4,606 7,447
2006 291 86.3% 3,312 6,046 9,572
2005 421 83.4% 4,058 9,780 15,150
2004 405 87.9% 3,425 6,359 11,531
2003 376 88.8% 5,419 9,658 20,648
2002 287 84.0% 3,958 8,686 15,572
2001 375 87.2% 5,468 8,455 13,727
2000 514 87.2% 4,326 8,487 14,555
1999 310 88.7% 3,885 7,505 18,825
1998 392 86.0% 5,587 9,196 23,653
1997 241 88.4% 6,210 8,425 12,336
1996 111 89.2% 3,388 5,015 10,287
1995 64 89.1% 3,533 5,006 11,471
1994 118 86.4% 4,107 7,928 11,740
1993 305 85.6% 6,761 10,681 15,895
1992 97 88.7% 3,294 7,987 13,029

How Long Does a Ac Cobra Last?

Based on 880 Ac Cobra vehicles on UK roads.

Average
29.9 years
Median
29.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
62 years

Ac Cobra Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ac Cobra MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
9,121 mi
75th Percentile
17,003 mi
95th Percentile
47,434 mi
Max Recorded
696,860 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ac Cobra

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1970

97.1% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

Year to avoid
1985

78.3% MOT pass rate from 254 tests

The best year to buy a used Ac Cobra is 1970, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 97.1% across 68 tests. The 1985 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ac Cobra Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ac Cobra THIS CAR 86.7% 9,973 9,121 mi 62 yrs
Ac Ace 87.8% 1,233 35,113 mi 71 yrs
Yamaha Bws 125 80.6% 3,536 12,414 mi 16 yrs
Yamaha Xvs 89.9% 8,868 8,491 mi 29 yrs
Ford Transit 350 Limited Ecoblue A 85.6% 3,311 51,925 mi — yrs

Compared to the Ac Ace (87.8% pass rate) and the Yamaha Bws 125 (80.6% pass rate), the Ac Cobra sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ac Cobra?

The Ac Cobra has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.7% across 9,973 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Ac Cobra are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (149 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (117), and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (89). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ac Cobra owner drives around 294 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ac Cobra models stay on UK roads for around 62 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ac Cobra — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ac Cobra reliable?
Based on 9,973 MOT tests, the Ac Cobra has a 86.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Ac Cobra?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ac Cobra do per year?
The typical Ac Cobra does around 294 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ac Cobra last?
Most Ac Cobra models stay on UK roads for around 62 years based on our analysis of 880 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ac Cobra?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ac Cobra?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ac Cobra is 1970 with a 97.1% pass rate across 68 tests.