Bentley Saloon Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Bentley Saloon car check
Is the Bentley Saloon reliable? We analysed 1,430 real MOT tests across 175 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Bentley Saloon? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Bentley Saloon 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 brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bentley Saloon.
Bentley Saloon Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Bentley Saloon. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Bentley Saloon MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Bentley Saloon to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Bentley Saloon Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Bentley Saloon fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Bentley Saloon Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Bentley Saloon owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Bentley Saloon MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bentley Saloon year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 148 | 75.7% | 79,824 | 136,695 | 175,785 |
| 1988 | 65 | 80.0% | 68,648 | 139,449 | 145,888 |
| 1961 | 71 | 87.3% | 36,892 | 46,228 | 74,270 |
| 1960 | 86 | 89.5% | 37,100 | 49,069 | 59,970 |
| 1953 | 53 | 90.6% | 52,912 | 59,899 | 84,652 |
| 1952 | 110 | 86.4% | 30,602 | 61,776 | 71,159 |
| 1950 | 83 | 90.4% | 46,274 | 66,443 | 78,459 |
| 1949 | 62 | 96.8% | 32,384 | 47,766 | 58,500 |
How Long Does a Bentley Saloon Last?
Based on 175 Bentley Saloon vehicles on UK roads.
Bentley Saloon Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Bentley Saloon 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 Saloon
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
96.8% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
75.7% MOT pass rate from 148 tests
The best year to buy a used Bentley Saloon is 1949, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.8% across 62 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Bentley Saloon Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bentley Saloon THIS CAR | 86.2% | 1,430 | 62,173 mi | 77 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 |
| Saab 9-3 S | 70.9% | 1,366 | 106,048 mi | 28 yrs |
Compared to the Bentley Continental (90.0% pass rate) and the Bentley Arnage (85.9% pass rate), the Bentley Saloon sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Bentley Saloon 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 SaloonShould you buy a used Bentley Saloon?
The Bentley Saloon has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.2% across 1,430 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 Saloon are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (34 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (31), and brake binding (25). 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 Saloon owner drives around 574 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 Saloon models stay on UK roads for around 77 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.