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Rolls Royce Corniche Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rolls Royce Corniche car check

Is the Rolls Royce Corniche reliable? We analysed 8,524 real MOT tests across 818 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 8,524 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.8%
Typical Mileage
49,446mi
Annual Mileage
342mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
58yrs

The Rolls Royce Corniche is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rolls Royce Corniche.

Rolls Royce Corniche Number Plates

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

Rolls Royce Corniche MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.9%
2002
91.2%
2001
86.7%
2000
84%
1995
83.9%
1994
90.8%
1993
86.5%
1992
87.5%
1991
87.9%
1990
84.1%
1989
81.2%
1988
85.3%
1987
82.4%
1986
85.4%
1985
82.7%
1984
84%
1983
80.4%
1982
81.1%
1981
82.6%
1980
78.7%
1979

Rolls Royce Corniche Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 338
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 173
parking brake recording little or no effort 128
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 100
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 88
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 85
Brake pipe excessively corroded 77
brake binding 73
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 71
Headlamp not working on main beam 69

Rolls Royce Corniche Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
103 mi/yr
Typical
342 mi/yr
Average
878 mi/yr
Heavy usage
898 mi/yr

Rolls Royce Corniche MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2002 135 88.9% 8,646 19,922 36,232
2001 260 91.2% 9,656 14,504 23,516
2000 256 86.7% 10,153 19,290 26,913
1995 50 84.0% 24,245 43,211 45,737
1994 62 83.9% 30,313 41,465 49,812
1993 76 90.8% 23,680 32,875 48,152
1992 163 86.5% 18,088 24,047 38,946
1991 144 87.5% 17,038 43,836 54,490
1990 364 87.9% 21,484 38,363 63,516
1989 352 84.1% 19,943 29,587 55,946
1988 362 81.2% 26,614 39,710 70,586
1987 266 85.3% 31,236 43,531 74,081
1986 182 82.4% 35,796 46,156 56,710
1985 261 85.4% 49,137 66,998 83,010
1984 329 82.7% 30,506 43,948 63,194
1983 212 84.0% 14,478 65,852 85,818
1982 443 80.4% 47,240 63,973 76,279
1981 302 81.1% 43,812 69,126 88,950
1980 385 82.6% 44,212 75,066 96,494
1979 347 78.7% 49,617 75,499 95,422

How Long Does a Rolls Royce Corniche Last?

Based on 818 Rolls Royce Corniche vehicles on UK roads.

Average
35.1 years
Median
38.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
58 years

Rolls Royce Corniche Mileage Distribution

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

Median
49,446 mi
75th Percentile
75,071 mi
95th Percentile
99,652 mi
Max Recorded
908,777 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rolls Royce Corniche

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

Best year
2001

91.2% MOT pass rate from 260 tests

Year to avoid
1968

74.5% MOT pass rate from 145 tests

The best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Corniche is 2001, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.2% across 260 tests. The 1968 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Rolls Royce Corniche Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rolls Royce Corniche THIS CAR 82.8% 8,524 49,446 mi 58 yrs
Rolls Royce Silver Spirit 79.1% 34,506 71,622 mi 47 yrs
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 80.3% 16,278 62,466 mi 59 yrs
Rolls Royce Phantom 93.4% 14,291 29,293 mi 55 yrs
Austin Mini Cooper 79.6% 4,144 41,212 mi 64 yrs

Compared to the Rolls Royce Silver Spirit (79.1% pass rate) and the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow (80.3% pass rate), the Rolls Royce Corniche outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Rolls Royce Corniche?

The Rolls Royce Corniche has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.8% across 8,524 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 Rolls Royce Corniche are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (338 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (173), and parking brake recording little or no effort (128). 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 Rolls Royce Corniche owner drives around 342 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 Rolls Royce Corniche models stay on UK roads for around 58 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.

Rolls Royce Corniche — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rolls Royce Corniche reliable?
Based on 8,524 MOT tests, the Rolls Royce Corniche has a 82.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Rolls Royce Corniche?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and parking brake recording little or no effort. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rolls Royce Corniche do per year?
The typical Rolls Royce Corniche does around 342 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rolls Royce Corniche last?
Most Rolls Royce Corniche models stay on UK roads for around 58 years based on our analysis of 818 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rolls Royce Corniche?
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 Rolls Royce Corniche?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Corniche is 2001 with a 91.2% pass rate across 260 tests.