Rolls Royce Shadow Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rolls Royce Shadow car check
Is the Rolls Royce Shadow reliable? We analysed 5,766 real MOT tests across 587 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rolls Royce Shadow? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rolls Royce Shadow is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort and brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rolls Royce Shadow.
Rolls Royce Shadow Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rolls Royce Shadow. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rolls Royce Shadow MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rolls Royce Shadow to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rolls Royce Shadow Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rolls Royce Shadow fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rolls Royce Shadow Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rolls Royce Shadow owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rolls Royce Shadow MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rolls Royce Shadow year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 79 | 86.1% | 62,337 | 67,073 | 119,349 |
| 1989 | 62 | 88.7% | 16,786 | 46,452 | 68,953 |
| 1982 | 59 | 79.7% | 36,165 | 80,511 | 83,538 |
| 1981 | 129 | 81.4% | 54,328 | 56,213 | 71,596 |
| 1980 | 323 | 78.9% | 63,068 | 86,733 | 107,610 |
| 1979 | 436 | 84.2% | 64,129 | 78,441 | 114,066 |
| 1978 | 425 | 78.8% | 45,686 | 72,012 | 89,352 |
| 1977 | 362 | 77.6% | 41,999 | 67,323 | 97,713 |
| 1976 | 628 | 78.5% | 44,389 | 70,100 | 86,636 |
| 1975 | 425 | 78.4% | 24,484 | 58,844 | 81,717 |
| 1974 | 482 | 79.7% | 27,696 | 61,486 | 84,470 |
| 1973 | 420 | 84.5% | 32,814 | 57,239 | 81,418 |
| 1972 | 471 | 78.6% | 15,807 | 45,742 | 77,171 |
| 1971 | 503 | 82.5% | 29,850 | 55,054 | 86,112 |
| 1970 | 320 | 81.3% | 31,750 | 62,090 | 74,936 |
| 1969 | 142 | 75.4% | 21,866 | 36,034 | 57,006 |
| 1968 | 234 | 86.8% | 31,070 | 47,279 | 69,621 |
| 1967 | 52 | 78.8% | 35,753 | 36,518 | 60,544 |
How Long Does a Rolls Royce Shadow Last?
Based on 587 Rolls Royce Shadow vehicles on UK roads.
Rolls Royce Shadow Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rolls Royce Shadow MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Rolls Royce Shadow
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.7% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
75.4% MOT pass rate from 142 tests
The best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Shadow is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.7% across 62 tests. The 1969 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.4% — 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 Shadow Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolls Royce Shadow THIS CAR | 80.6% | 5,766 | 64,519 mi | 59 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 |
| Honda Gl | 93.8% | 4,140 | 15,690 mi | 50 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 Shadow outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Rolls Royce Shadow 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 ShadowShould you buy a used Rolls Royce Shadow?
The Rolls Royce Shadow has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.6% across 5,766 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 Shadow are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (312 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (158), and brake binding (142). 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 Shadow owner drives around 320 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 Shadow models stay on UK roads for around 59 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.