Leyland Olympian Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Leyland Olympian car check
Is the Leyland Olympian reliable? We analysed 507 real MOT tests across 116 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Leyland Olympian? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Leyland Olympian is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include service brake: efficiency below requirements, brakes imbalanced across an axle and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Leyland Olympian.
Leyland Olympian Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Leyland Olympian. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Leyland Olympian MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Leyland Olympian to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Leyland Olympian Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Leyland Olympian fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Leyland Olympian Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Leyland Olympian owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Leyland Olympian MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Leyland Olympian year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 62 | 85.5% | 41,940 | 112,919 | 203,839 |
| 1989 | 89 | 80.9% | 43,886 | 118,957 | 325,627 |
| 1988 | 96 | 81.3% | 18,776 | 36,022 | 166,998 |
How Long Does a Leyland Olympian Last?
Based on 116 Leyland Olympian vehicles on UK roads.
Leyland Olympian Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Leyland Olympian 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 Leyland Olympian
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.5% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
80.9% MOT pass rate from 89 tests
The best year to buy a used Leyland Olympian is 1990, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.5% across 62 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Leyland Olympian Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leyland Olympian THIS CAR | 80.9% | 507 | 111,468 mi | 38 yrs |
| Leyland Daf | 62.3% | 494 | 98,626 mi | 35 yrs |
| Leyland Unknown | 75.4% | 334 | 98,798 mi | 41 yrs |
| Renault Modus Dynamique | 74.4% | 629 | 69,590 mi | — yrs |
| Yamaha Tenere 700 Rally (XZT690D-B) | 93.9% | 537 | 6,014 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Leyland Daf (62.3% pass rate) and the Leyland Unknown (75.4% pass rate), the Leyland Olympian outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Leyland Olympian 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 Leyland OlympianShould you buy a used Leyland Olympian?
The Leyland Olympian has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.9% across 507 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 Leyland Olympian are service brake: efficiency below requirements (14 recorded failures), brakes imbalanced across an axle (10), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (7). 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 Leyland Olympian owner drives around 1,165 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 Leyland Olympian models stay on UK roads for around 38 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.