Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II car check
Is the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II reliable? We analysed 1,594 real MOT tests across 144 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II 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 Silver Shadow II.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 72 | 79.2% | 40,206 | 52,148 | 125,060 |
| 1980 | 495 | 83.2% | 45,832 | 71,310 | 91,439 |
| 1979 | 475 | 77.9% | 56,892 | 71,138 | 121,909 |
| 1978 | 332 | 81.6% | 61,442 | 82,089 | 94,724 |
| 1977 | 149 | 81.2% | 44,927 | 63,828 | 81,394 |
How Long Does a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II Last?
Based on 144 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II vehicles on UK roads.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II 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 Silver Shadow II
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
83.2% MOT pass rate from 495 tests
77.9% MOT pass rate from 475 tests
The best year to buy a used Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II is 1980, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.2% across 495 tests. The 1979 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.9% — 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 Silver Shadow II Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II THIS CAR | 80.7% | 1,594 | 73,985 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 |
| Ford Fiesta Style Climate | 81.5% | 904 | 81,432 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 Silver Shadow II outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II 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 Silver Shadow IIShould you buy a used Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II?
The Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.7% across 1,594 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 Silver Shadow II are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (61 recorded failures), parking brake recording little or no effort (43), and brake binding (37). 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 Silver Shadow II owner drives around 426 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 Silver Shadow II 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.