CarVerify

Rolls Royce Dawn Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rolls Royce Dawn car check

Is the Rolls Royce Dawn reliable? We analysed 2,962 real MOT tests across 569 vehicles to find out.

Got a specific Rolls Royce Dawn? Enter the reg for a free check:

Free basic check Reports from £4.99 Results in seconds
Data last updated: · Based on 2,962 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
94.4%
Typical Mileage
13,219mi
Annual Mileage
1,627mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
10yrs

The Rolls Royce Dawn is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rolls Royce Dawn.

Rolls Royce Dawn Number Plates

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

Rolls Royce Dawn MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

100%
2021
94.1%
2020
93.1%
2019
92.7%
2018
95.9%
2017
94.3%
2016

Rolls Royce Dawn Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Rolls Royce Dawn models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 12
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure 7
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 7
Tyre has ply or cords exposed 5

Rolls Royce Dawn Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
756 mi/yr
Typical
1,627 mi/yr
Average
2,729 mi/yr
Heavy usage
3,243 mi/yr

Rolls Royce Dawn MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2021 50 100.0% 6,056 7,876 13,092
2020 135 94.1% 4,088 7,354 12,690
2019 288 93.1% 7,696 12,560 17,870
2018 668 92.7% 7,234 12,245 19,710
2017 826 95.9% 8,492 14,138 22,665
2016 938 94.3% 8,601 14,724 23,490

How Long Does a Rolls Royce Dawn Last?

Based on 569 Rolls Royce Dawn vehicles on UK roads.

Average
6.7 years
Median
7.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
10 years

Rolls Royce Dawn Mileage Distribution

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

Median
13,219 mi
75th Percentile
21,144 mi
95th Percentile
42,580 mi
Max Recorded
121,372 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rolls Royce Dawn

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

Best year
2021

100.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests

Year to avoid
2018

92.7% MOT pass rate from 668 tests

The best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Dawn is 2021, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 100.0% across 50 tests. The 2018 model year has the lowest pass rate at 92.7% — 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 Dawn Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rolls Royce Dawn THIS CAR 94.4% 2,962 13,219 mi 10 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
Mercedes-benz AMG Cla 35 4MATIC Auto 88% 943 28,984 mi — 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 Dawn outperforms both on MOT reliability.

Found a Rolls Royce Dawn 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 Rolls Royce Dawn

Should you buy a used Rolls Royce Dawn?

The Rolls Royce Dawn has an overall MOT pass rate of 94.4% across 2,962 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Rolls Royce Dawn with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Rolls Royce Dawn owner drives around 1,627 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 Dawn models stay on UK roads for around 10 years. If you're buying one that's already well within 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 Dawn — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rolls Royce Dawn reliable?
Based on 2,962 MOT tests, the Rolls Royce Dawn has a 94.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Rolls Royce Dawn?
The most common failure point is general wear and tear.
How many miles does a Rolls Royce Dawn do per year?
The typical Rolls Royce Dawn does around 1,627 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rolls Royce Dawn last?
Most Rolls Royce Dawn models stay on UK roads for around 10 years based on our analysis of 569 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rolls Royce Dawn?
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 Dawn?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Dawn is 2021 with a 100.0% pass rate across 50 tests.