Sunbeam Talbot 90 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Sunbeam Talbot 90 car check
Is the Sunbeam Talbot 90 reliable? We analysed 708 real MOT tests across 127 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Sunbeam Talbot 90? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Sunbeam Talbot 90 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brakes imbalanced across an axle, brake binding and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Sunbeam Talbot 90.
Sunbeam Talbot 90 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Sunbeam Talbot 90. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Sunbeam Talbot 90 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Sunbeam Talbot 90 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Sunbeam Talbot 90 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Sunbeam Talbot 90 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Sunbeam Talbot 90 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Sunbeam Talbot 90 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Sunbeam Talbot 90 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Sunbeam Talbot 90 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 147 | 85.7% | 20,880 | 48,332 | 65,479 |
| 1953 | 94 | 80.9% | 20,920 | 54,964 | 64,717 |
| 1952 | 177 | 75.1% | 41,032 | 68,151 | 84,066 |
| 1951 | 78 | 84.6% | 44,717 | 57,723 | 79,577 |
How Long Does a Sunbeam Talbot 90 Last?
Based on 127 Sunbeam Talbot 90 vehicles on UK roads.
Sunbeam Talbot 90 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Sunbeam Talbot 90 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 Sunbeam Talbot 90
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
85.7% MOT pass rate from 147 tests
75.1% MOT pass rate from 177 tests
The best year to buy a used Sunbeam Talbot 90 is 1954, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 147 tests. The 1952 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Sunbeam Talbot 90 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbeam Talbot 90 THIS CAR | 83.1% | 708 | 55,528 mi | 75 yrs |
| Sunbeam Alpine | 79.7% | 10,414 | 46,018 mi | 72 yrs |
| Sunbeam Tiger | 86.8% | 3,243 | 32,486 mi | 61 yrs |
| Sunbeam Rapier | 81.5% | 3,083 | 52,906 mi | 68 yrs |
| Renault Captur Dynamique S Nav DCI A | 94.1% | 541 | 43,568 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Sunbeam Alpine (79.7% pass rate) and the Sunbeam Tiger (86.8% pass rate), the Sunbeam Talbot 90 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Sunbeam Talbot 90 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 Sunbeam Talbot 90Should you buy a used Sunbeam Talbot 90?
The Sunbeam Talbot 90 has an overall MOT pass rate of 83.1% across 708 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 Sunbeam Talbot 90 are brakes imbalanced across an axle (21 recorded failures), brake binding (15), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (14). 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 Sunbeam Talbot 90 owner drives around 375 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 Sunbeam Talbot 90 models stay on UK roads for around 75 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.