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Bentley Turbo Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Bentley Turbo car check

Is the Bentley Turbo reliable? We analysed 31,416 real MOT tests across 2,225 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 31,416 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
78.7%
Typical Mileage
73,541mi
Annual Mileage
799mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
41yrs

The Bentley Turbo 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 tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bentley Turbo.

Bentley Turbo Number Plates

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

Bentley Turbo MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

83.2%
1998
82.5%
1997
79.8%
1996
79.7%
1995
81%
1994
76.9%
1993
77.2%
1992
76.5%
1991
77.1%
1990
75.7%
1989
76.3%
1988
76.2%
1987
75%
1986
75%
1985
85.7%
1984

Bentley Turbo Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,108
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,042
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 457
Brake pipe excessively corroded 407
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 402
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 390
position lamp(s) not working 388
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 347
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 328
Registration plate lamp not working 274

Bentley Turbo Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
241 mi/yr
Typical
799 mi/yr
Average
1,586 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,951 mi/yr

Bentley Turbo MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1998 493 83.2% 34,662 51,301 70,512
1997 7,018 82.5% 42,066 60,314 79,812
1996 2,774 79.8% 46,092 65,030 82,104
1995 2,506 79.7% 45,660 65,385 86,797
1994 1,948 81.0% 58,393 72,106 91,432
1993 1,271 76.9% 55,272 77,356 98,434
1992 1,551 77.2% 54,572 79,334 105,519
1991 2,185 76.5% 57,818 82,944 106,624
1990 3,469 77.1% 59,072 81,801 108,512
1989 3,154 75.7% 64,328 86,839 115,772
1988 1,669 76.3% 68,228 95,092 115,322
1987 1,545 76.2% 68,678 96,733 115,774
1986 1,000 75.0% 59,665 84,633 113,897
1985 516 75.0% 72,417 89,694 107,523
1984 77 85.7% 40,091 69,557 101,563

How Long Does a Bentley Turbo Last?

Based on 2,225 Bentley Turbo vehicles on UK roads.

Average
26.9 years
Median
28.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
41 years

Bentley Turbo Mileage Distribution

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

Median
73,541 mi
75th Percentile
99,301 mi
95th Percentile
141,794 mi
Max Recorded
949,454 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Bentley Turbo

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

Best year
1984

85.7% MOT pass rate from 77 tests

Year to avoid
1985

75.0% MOT pass rate from 516 tests

The best year to buy a used Bentley Turbo is 1984, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 77 tests. The 1985 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Bentley Turbo Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Bentley Turbo THIS CAR 78.7% 31,416 73,541 mi 41 yrs
Bentley Continental 90% 209,069 37,776 mi 29 yrs
Bentley Arnage 85.9% 40,970 45,703 mi 28 yrs
Bentley Continental GT 94.6% 17,552 18,515 mi 10 yrs
Isuzu D-max Yukon D/c Intercooler Td 75.5% 14,282 77,574 mi 14 yrs

Compared to the Bentley Continental (90.0% pass rate) and the Bentley Arnage (85.9% pass rate), the Bentley Turbo trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Bentley Turbo?

The Bentley Turbo has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.7% across 31,416 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 Turbo are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (2,108 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (1,042), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (457). 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 Turbo owner drives around 799 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 Turbo models stay on UK roads for around 41 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.

Bentley Turbo — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bentley Turbo reliable?
Based on 31,416 MOT tests, the Bentley Turbo has a 78.7% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Bentley Turbo?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Bentley Turbo do per year?
The typical Bentley Turbo does around 799 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Bentley Turbo last?
Most Bentley Turbo models stay on UK roads for around 41 years based on our analysis of 2,225 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Bentley Turbo?
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 Bentley Turbo?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Bentley Turbo is 1984 with a 85.7% pass rate across 77 tests.