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Reliant Robin Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Reliant Robin car check

Is the Reliant Robin reliable? We analysed 50,844 real MOT tests across 4,504 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 50,844 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
71.0%
Typical Mileage
43,760mi
Annual Mileage
1,464mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
50yrs

The Reliant Robin is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, stop lamp not working and headlamp aim too high. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Reliant Robin.

Reliant Robin Number Plates

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

Reliant Robin MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

72%
2002
75.6%
2001
75.5%
2000
72.2%
1999
70%
1998
69.6%
1997
68.4%
1996
67.8%
1995
69.3%
1994
69.9%
1993
69.8%
1992
72.2%
1991
67.9%
1990
72.2%
1989
74.5%
1982
74.6%
1981
74.3%
1980
76.8%
1979
79.4%
1978
77.9%
1977

Reliant Robin Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

fog lamp not working 2,808
Stop lamp not working 2,413
Headlamp aim too high 1,292
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,201
Headlamp not working on main beam 1,087
position lamp(s) not working 1,080
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 955
parking brake recording little or no effort 914
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 858
Direction indicator not working 829

Reliant Robin Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
552 mi/yr
Typical
1,464 mi/yr
Average
2,429 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,026 mi/yr

Reliant Robin MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2002 350 72.0% 19,033 36,227 53,284
2001 1,309 75.6% 18,716 31,546 51,000
2000 4,186 75.5% 23,829 37,694 53,962
1999 6,166 72.2% 25,398 38,538 54,793
1998 5,700 70.0% 25,842 41,100 56,188
1997 5,886 69.6% 28,093 40,539 55,265
1996 1,647 68.4% 31,892 43,442 57,478
1995 2,735 67.8% 31,673 44,064 63,211
1994 4,481 69.3% 29,229 47,086 63,737
1993 4,309 69.9% 32,816 46,251 64,511
1992 5,200 69.8% 31,932 48,391 65,220
1991 371 72.2% 44,591 57,904 69,423
1990 3,504 67.9% 41,834 57,274 72,541
1989 431 72.2% 39,112 51,713 67,963
1982 106 74.5% 20,409 39,817 57,606
1981 760 74.6% 20,458 46,890 66,696
1980 907 74.3% 21,236 49,571 72,266
1979 651 76.8% 10,726 42,754 64,140
1978 613 79.4% 22,183 47,087 67,066
1977 272 77.9% 31,231 43,265 69,858

How Long Does a Reliant Robin Last?

Based on 4,504 Reliant Robin vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.4 years
Median
21.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
50 years

Reliant Robin Mileage Distribution

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

Median
43,760 mi
75th Percentile
61,195 mi
95th Percentile
85,926 mi
Max Recorded
987,912 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Reliant Robin

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

Best year
1978

79.4% MOT pass rate from 613 tests

Year to avoid
1995

67.8% MOT pass rate from 2,735 tests

The best year to buy a used Reliant Robin is 1978, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.4% across 613 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Reliant Robin Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Reliant Robin THIS CAR 71.0% 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
Reliant Kitten De Luxe 70.7% 2,848 56,217 mi 51 yrs
BMW 123 80% 78,838 82,299 mi 19 yrs

Compared to the Reliant Rialto (72.0% pass rate) and the Reliant Scimitar (73.5% pass rate), the Reliant Robin trails behind on MOT reliability.

Found a Reliant Robin 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.

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Should you buy a used Reliant Robin?

The Reliant Robin has an overall MOT pass rate of 71.0% across 50,844 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Reliant Robin are fog lamp not working (2,808 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (2,413), and headlamp aim too high (1,292). 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 Robin owner drives around 1,464 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 Robin models stay on UK roads for around 50 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 Robin — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Reliant Robin reliable?
Based on 50,844 MOT tests, the Reliant Robin has a 71.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Reliant Robin?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, stop lamp not working, and headlamp aim too high. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Reliant Robin do per year?
The typical Reliant Robin does around 1,464 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Reliant Robin last?
Most Reliant Robin models stay on UK roads for around 50 years based on our analysis of 4,504 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Reliant Robin?
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 Robin?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Reliant Robin is 1978 with a 79.4% pass rate across 613 tests.