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Reliant Rialto Van Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Reliant Rialto Van car check

Is the Reliant Rialto Van reliable? We analysed 751 real MOT tests across 152 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 751 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
73.1%
Typical Mileage
45,768mi
Annual Mileage
1,392mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
42yrs

The Reliant Rialto Van is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, stop lamp not working and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Reliant Rialto Van.

Reliant Rialto Van Number Plates

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

Reliant Rialto Van MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

75.6%
1998
67.9%
1997
69%
1990
71.6%
1989
69.4%
1988
83.6%
1986
70.4%
1984

Reliant Rialto Van Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

fog lamp not working 35
Stop lamp not working 24
position lamp(s) not working 18
Brake pipe excessively corroded 18
Headlamp aim too high 15
Steering column top mounting bracket insecure 15
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 14
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 13
parking brake recording little or no effort 13
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 11

Reliant Rialto Van Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
208 mi/yr
Typical
1,392 mi/yr
Average
2,582 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,184 mi/yr

Reliant Rialto Van MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1998 78 75.6% 22,389 35,266 43,992
1997 53 67.9% 15,823 31,348 56,111
1990 58 69.0% 42,971 48,960 66,817
1989 95 71.6% 20,594 49,462 67,699
1988 196 69.4% 30,652 49,201 71,346
1986 55 83.6% 28,138 42,436 87,454
1984 54 70.4% 1,651 68,173 81,502

How Long Does a Reliant Rialto Van Last?

Based on 152 Reliant Rialto Van vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.0 years
Median
21.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
42 years

Reliant Rialto Van Mileage Distribution

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

Median
45,768 mi
75th Percentile
67,236 mi
95th Percentile
90,870 mi
Max Recorded
99,282 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Reliant Rialto Van

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

Best year
1986

83.6% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

Year to avoid
1997

67.9% MOT pass rate from 53 tests

The best year to buy a used Reliant Rialto Van is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.6% across 55 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.9% — 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 Van Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Reliant Rialto Van THIS CAR 73.1% 751 45,768 mi 42 yrs
Reliant Robin 71% 50,844 43,760 mi 50 yrs
Reliant Rialto 72% 33,460 52,257 mi 44 yrs
Reliant Scimitar 73.5% 31,230 53,975 mi 60 yrs
Audi A3 Sport 35 TDI S-a 86.9% 919 43,284 mi — yrs

Compared to the Reliant Robin (71.0% pass rate) and the Reliant Rialto (72.0% pass rate), the Reliant Rialto Van outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Reliant Rialto Van?

The Reliant Rialto Van has an overall MOT pass rate of 73.1% across 751 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Reliant Rialto Van are fog lamp not working (35 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (24), and position lamp(s) not working (18). 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 Van owner drives around 1,392 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 Van models stay on UK roads for around 42 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.

Reliant Rialto Van — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Reliant Rialto Van reliable?
Based on 751 MOT tests, the Reliant Rialto Van has a 73.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Reliant Rialto Van?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, stop lamp not working, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Reliant Rialto Van do per year?
The typical Reliant Rialto Van does around 1,392 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Reliant Rialto Van last?
Most Reliant Rialto Van models stay on UK roads for around 42 years based on our analysis of 152 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Reliant Rialto Van?
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 Reliant Rialto Van?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Reliant Rialto Van is 1986 with a 83.6% pass rate across 55 tests.