Reliant Rialto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Reliant Rialto car check
Is the Reliant Rialto reliable? We analysed 33,460 real MOT tests across 4,287 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Reliant Rialto? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Reliant Rialto is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, stop lamp not working and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Reliant Rialto.
Reliant Rialto Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Reliant Rialto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Reliant Rialto MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Reliant Rialto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Reliant Rialto Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Reliant Rialto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Reliant Rialto Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Reliant Rialto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Reliant Rialto MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Reliant Rialto year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1,046 | 68.7% | 31,516 | 44,853 | 62,145 |
| 1997 | 1,494 | 71.8% | 31,142 | 44,127 | 59,685 |
| 1996 | 483 | 72.3% | 31,228 | 46,380 | 59,892 |
| 1995 | 871 | 70.6% | 29,274 | 42,372 | 59,367 |
| 1994 | 1,188 | 72.9% | 27,847 | 43,691 | 58,704 |
| 1993 | 1,392 | 68.9% | 32,162 | 50,969 | 65,115 |
| 1992 | 1,343 | 70.4% | 32,428 | 46,710 | 64,224 |
| 1991 | 116 | 69.0% | 41,732 | 56,162 | 71,092 |
| 1990 | 1,228 | 73.2% | 34,748 | 48,954 | 66,437 |
| 1989 | 3,588 | 71.5% | 36,806 | 54,236 | 71,668 |
| 1988 | 4,951 | 72.1% | 36,781 | 58,154 | 75,226 |
| 1987 | 3,768 | 72.0% | 36,990 | 57,353 | 74,164 |
| 1986 | 3,403 | 72.9% | 36,220 | 53,794 | 72,908 |
| 1985 | 2,390 | 72.6% | 35,431 | 55,239 | 73,703 |
| 1984 | 2,434 | 73.7% | 26,206 | 47,766 | 70,929 |
| 1983 | 1,931 | 70.0% | 34,333 | 52,021 | 72,364 |
| 1982 | 1,689 | 76.1% | 31,426 | 56,691 | 76,582 |
How Long Does a Reliant Rialto Last?
Based on 4,287 Reliant Rialto vehicles on UK roads.
Reliant Rialto Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Reliant Rialto 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 Reliant Rialto
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
76.1% MOT pass rate from 1,689 tests
68.7% MOT pass rate from 1,046 tests
The best year to buy a used Reliant Rialto is 1982, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.1% across 1,689 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Reliant Rialto Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliant Rialto THIS CAR | 72.0% | 33,460 | 52,257 mi | 44 yrs |
| Reliant Robin | 71% | 50,844 | 43,760 mi | 50 yrs |
| Reliant Scimitar | 73.5% | 31,230 | 53,975 mi | 60 yrs |
| Reliant Kitten De Luxe | 70.7% | 2,848 | 56,217 mi | 51 yrs |
| Yamaha FJR1300A | 91% | 29,998 | 26,629 mi | 23 yrs |
Compared to the Reliant Robin (71.0% pass rate) and the Reliant Scimitar (73.5% pass rate), the Reliant Rialto sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Reliant Rialto 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 Reliant RialtoShould you buy a used Reliant Rialto?
The Reliant Rialto has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.0% across 33,460 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Reliant Rialto are fog lamp not working (1,438 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (1,105), and brake pipe excessively corroded (762). 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 Reliant Rialto owner drives around 1,246 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 Reliant Rialto models stay on UK roads for around 44 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.