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Rolls Royce Phantom Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Rolls Royce Phantom reliable? We analysed 14,291 real MOT tests across 1,547 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 14,291 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
93.4%
Typical Mileage
29,293mi
Annual Mileage
1,625mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
55yrs

The Rolls Royce Phantom is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre has ply or cords exposed, tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rolls Royce Phantom.

Rolls Royce Phantom Number Plates

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

Rolls Royce Phantom MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

100%
2020
96.7%
2019
97.2%
2018
97.7%
2016
96.9%
2015
97.4%
2014
96%
2013
97.3%
2012
94.9%
2011
95.9%
2010
94.3%
2009
93.4%
2008
92.9%
2007
91.9%
2006
92.7%
2005
90.4%
2004
93.3%
2003
90.4%
1975
80.8%
1974
90.9%
1972

Rolls Royce Phantom Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre has ply or cords exposed 73
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 41
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 40
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 36
registration plate character(s) incorrectly spaced 29
Supplementary Restraint System warning lamp indicates a fault 28
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 28
Headlamp aim beam image kick up to the offside 27

Rolls Royce Phantom Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
530 mi/yr
Typical
1,625 mi/yr
Average
3,253 mi/yr
Heavy usage
4,132 mi/yr

Rolls Royce Phantom MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2020 68 100.0% 10,271 20,166 26,479
2019 213 96.7% 5,282 12,675 23,502
2018 428 97.2% 8,294 16,142 26,682
2016 355 97.7% 3,978 13,075 28,840
2015 356 96.9% 8,062 16,803 27,474
2014 499 97.4% 9,350 20,160 34,460
2013 253 96.0% 7,235 14,441 31,360
2012 259 97.3% 14,173 21,543 36,196
2011 613 94.9% 12,180 19,675 33,945
2010 689 95.9% 12,846 18,956 33,379
2009 650 94.3% 13,840 27,658 51,902
2008 1,690 93.4% 14,072 25,910 44,762
2007 1,725 92.9% 18,456 33,100 55,931
2006 1,602 91.9% 19,422 34,711 61,280
2005 1,327 92.7% 22,136 41,681 70,473
2004 1,299 90.4% 28,585 51,115 86,819
2003 522 93.3% 26,181 46,839 76,614
1975 52 90.4% 36,492 47,468 82,166
1974 52 80.8% 7,384 11,640 58,616
1972 66 90.9% 19,882 46,665 50,692

How Long Does a Rolls Royce Phantom Last?

Based on 1,547 Rolls Royce Phantom vehicles on UK roads.

Average
17.5 years
Median
14.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
55 years

Rolls Royce Phantom Mileage Distribution

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

Median
29,293 mi
75th Percentile
54,745 mi
95th Percentile
105,369 mi
Max Recorded
403,725 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rolls Royce Phantom

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

Best year
2020

100.0% MOT pass rate from 68 tests

Year to avoid
1974

80.8% MOT pass rate from 52 tests

The best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Phantom is 2020, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 100.0% across 68 tests. The 1974 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.8% — 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 Phantom Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rolls Royce Phantom THIS CAR 93.4% 14,291 29,293 mi 55 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 Silver Spur 79.9% 10,785 67,413 mi 46 yrs
Ferrari 328 91% 8,720 30,068 mi 40 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 Phantom outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Rolls Royce Phantom?

The Rolls Royce Phantom has an overall MOT pass rate of 93.4% across 14,291 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 Phantom are tyre has ply or cords exposed (73 recorded failures), tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (41), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (40). 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 Phantom owner drives around 1,625 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 Phantom models stay on UK roads for around 55 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 Phantom — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rolls Royce Phantom reliable?
Based on 14,291 MOT tests, the Rolls Royce Phantom has a 93.4% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Rolls Royce Phantom?
The most common MOT failures are tyre has ply or cords exposed, tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rolls Royce Phantom do per year?
The typical Rolls Royce Phantom does around 1,625 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rolls Royce Phantom last?
Most Rolls Royce Phantom models stay on UK roads for around 55 years based on our analysis of 1,547 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rolls Royce Phantom?
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 Phantom?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Phantom is 2020 with a 100.0% pass rate across 68 tests.