Lancia Thema Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Lancia Thema car check
Is the Lancia Thema reliable? We analysed 2,292 real MOT tests across 336 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Lancia Thema? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Lancia Thema is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and steering rack gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Lancia Thema.
Lancia Thema Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Lancia Thema. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Lancia Thema MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Lancia Thema to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Lancia Thema Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Lancia Thema fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Lancia Thema Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Lancia Thema owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Lancia Thema MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Lancia Thema year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 155 | 70.3% | 82,208 | 116,041 | 137,594 |
| 1993 | 530 | 68.1% | 85,580 | 116,390 | 145,219 |
| 1992 | 219 | 71.7% | 89,364 | 100,878 | 144,539 |
| 1991 | 224 | 70.5% | 71,331 | 104,005 | 146,431 |
| 1990 | 334 | 72.8% | 81,683 | 111,740 | 154,511 |
| 1989 | 350 | 64.6% | 84,358 | 128,440 | 160,590 |
| 1988 | 288 | 69.4% | 90,463 | 120,764 | 140,873 |
| 1987 | 62 | 67.7% | 84,010 | 111,132 | 112,199 |
| 1986 | 58 | 74.1% | 96,564 | 105,733 | 138,595 |
How Long Does a Lancia Thema Last?
Based on 336 Lancia Thema vehicles on UK roads.
Lancia Thema Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Lancia Thema 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 Lancia Thema
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
74.1% MOT pass rate from 58 tests
64.6% MOT pass rate from 350 tests
The best year to buy a used Lancia Thema is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.1% across 58 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Lancia Thema Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancia Thema THIS CAR | 69.6% | 2,292 | 114,309 mi | 40 yrs |
| Lancia Delta | 76.1% | 16,262 | 105,762 mi | 39 yrs |
| Lancia Beta | 70.3% | 3,619 | 60,527 mi | 49 yrs |
| Lancia Fulvia | 78.3% | 3,282 | 58,178 mi | 60 yrs |
| Triumph T140E | 88% | 872 | 18,908 mi | 48 yrs |
Compared to the Lancia Delta (76.1% pass rate) and the Lancia Beta (70.3% pass rate), the Lancia Thema trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Lancia Thema 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 Lancia ThemaShould you buy a used Lancia Thema?
The Lancia Thema has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.6% across 2,292 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Lancia Thema are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (204 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (122), and steering rack gaiter split (104). 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 Lancia Thema owner drives around 2,084 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 Lancia Thema models stay on UK roads for around 40 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.