Bentley Mulsanne Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Bentley Mulsanne car check
Is the Bentley Mulsanne reliable? We analysed 15,955 real MOT tests across 1,697 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Bentley Mulsanne? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Bentley Mulsanne is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bentley Mulsanne.
Bentley Mulsanne Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Bentley Mulsanne. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Bentley Mulsanne MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Bentley Mulsanne to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Bentley Mulsanne Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Bentley Mulsanne fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Bentley Mulsanne Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Bentley Mulsanne owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Bentley Mulsanne MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bentley Mulsanne year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 83 | 98.8% | 6,867 | 12,695 | 19,088 |
| 2019 | 286 | 95.5% | 6,803 | 13,984 | 23,306 |
| 2018 | 254 | 96.5% | 8,735 | 15,893 | 24,630 |
| 2017 | 599 | 94.0% | 9,983 | 16,521 | 26,694 |
| 2016 | 1,062 | 95.0% | 11,693 | 19,789 | 30,952 |
| 2015 | 1,000 | 93.6% | 13,267 | 21,348 | 32,802 |
| 2014 | 954 | 95.1% | 13,830 | 23,474 | 35,810 |
| 2013 | 750 | 94.7% | 12,673 | 21,589 | 31,807 |
| 2012 | 986 | 94.2% | 15,423 | 26,445 | 38,691 |
| 2011 | 1,412 | 92.1% | 14,468 | 27,534 | 42,874 |
| 2010 | 426 | 92.5% | 20,077 | 38,703 | 57,870 |
| 1992 | 420 | 76.7% | 80,906 | 95,992 | 109,448 |
| 1991 | 925 | 75.4% | 55,770 | 83,201 | 110,260 |
| 1990 | 1,466 | 77.1% | 56,503 | 89,930 | 112,058 |
| 1989 | 1,234 | 77.6% | 60,408 | 82,587 | 110,607 |
| 1988 | 1,060 | 81.1% | 56,586 | 77,370 | 107,879 |
| 1987 | 485 | 73.8% | 90,883 | 111,164 | 128,665 |
| 1986 | 410 | 78.3% | 65,716 | 75,857 | 109,176 |
| 1985 | 615 | 79.0% | 67,297 | 89,788 | 114,458 |
| 1984 | 598 | 74.6% | 70,199 | 82,766 | 97,969 |
How Long Does a Bentley Mulsanne Last?
Based on 1,697 Bentley Mulsanne vehicles on UK roads.
Bentley Mulsanne Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Bentley Mulsanne MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Bentley Mulsanne
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
98.8% MOT pass rate from 83 tests
73.5% MOT pass rate from 374 tests
The best year to buy a used Bentley Mulsanne is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.8% across 83 tests. The 1983 model year has the lowest pass rate at 73.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Bentley Mulsanne Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley Mulsanne THIS CAR | 85.5% | 15,955 | 46,844 mi | 45 yrs |
| Bentley Continental | 90% | 209,069 | 37,776 mi | 29 yrs |
| Bentley Arnage | 85.9% | 40,970 | 45,703 mi | 28 yrs |
| Bentley Turbo | 78.7% | 31,416 | 73,541 mi | 41 yrs |
| Kawasaki ZZR1400 | 90.5% | 6,313 | 17,684 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the Bentley Continental (90.0% pass rate) and the Bentley Arnage (85.9% pass rate), the Bentley Mulsanne trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Bentley Mulsanne you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Bentley MulsanneShould you buy a used Bentley Mulsanne?
The Bentley Mulsanne has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.5% across 15,955 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 Bentley Mulsanne are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (628 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (292), and brake pipe excessively corroded (141). 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 Bentley Mulsanne owner drives around 1,137 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 Bentley Mulsanne models stay on UK roads for around 45 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.