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Rolls Royce Shadow 2 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rolls Royce Shadow 2 car check

Is the Rolls Royce Shadow 2 reliable? We analysed 1,513 real MOT tests across 134 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,513 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.0%
Typical Mileage
82,300mi
Annual Mileage
409mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
49yrs

The Rolls Royce Shadow 2 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 windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rolls Royce Shadow 2.

Rolls Royce Shadow 2 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Rolls Royce Shadow 2. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Rolls Royce Shadow 2 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Rolls Royce Shadow 2 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

87.2%
1981
87.6%
1980
82.7%
1979
80%
1978
80.3%
1977

Rolls Royce Shadow 2 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Rolls Royce Shadow 2 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 72
parking brake recording little or no effort 53
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 38
Brake pipe excessively corroded 29
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 22
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 18
brake binding 18
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 16
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 14
Service brake: efficiency below requirements 14

Rolls Royce Shadow 2 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Rolls Royce Shadow 2 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
136 mi/yr
Typical
409 mi/yr
Average
1,024 mi/yr
Heavy usage
963 mi/yr

Rolls Royce Shadow 2 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rolls Royce Shadow 2 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1981 86 87.2% 20,073 104,202 123,903
1980 218 87.6% 67,100 79,154 91,562
1979 421 82.7% 59,386 85,139 101,234
1978 466 80.0% 56,482 84,407 99,173
1977 178 80.3% 56,250 85,060 100,278

How Long Does a Rolls Royce Shadow 2 Last?

Based on 134 Rolls Royce Shadow 2 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
38.1 years
Median
39.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
49 years

Rolls Royce Shadow 2 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Rolls Royce Shadow 2 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
82,300 mi
75th Percentile
99,256 mi
95th Percentile
136,299 mi
Max Recorded
776,100 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rolls Royce Shadow 2

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

Best year
1980

87.6% MOT pass rate from 218 tests

Year to avoid
1978

80.0% MOT pass rate from 466 tests

The best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Shadow 2 is 1980, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.6% across 218 tests. The 1978 model year has the lowest pass rate at 80.0% — 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 2 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 2 THIS CAR 82.0% 1,513 82,300 mi 49 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
Dacia Sandero Stpway Comfort Lpg Tce 88.5% 1,034 25,015 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 Shadow 2 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Rolls Royce Shadow 2?

The Rolls Royce Shadow 2 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.0% across 1,513 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 2 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (72 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (53), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (38). 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 2 owner drives around 409 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 2 models stay on UK roads for around 49 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 Shadow 2 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rolls Royce Shadow 2 reliable?
Based on 1,513 MOT tests, the Rolls Royce Shadow 2 has a 82.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Rolls Royce Shadow 2?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, parking brake recording little or no effort, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rolls Royce Shadow 2 do per year?
The typical Rolls Royce Shadow 2 does around 409 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rolls Royce Shadow 2 last?
Most Rolls Royce Shadow 2 models stay on UK roads for around 49 years based on our analysis of 134 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rolls Royce Shadow 2?
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 Shadow 2?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Shadow 2 is 1980 with a 87.6% pass rate across 218 tests.