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Talbot Avenger Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Talbot Avenger car check

Is the Talbot Avenger reliable? We analysed 830 real MOT tests across 134 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 830 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.2%
Typical Mileage
52,500mi
Annual Mileage
477mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
54yrs

The Talbot Avenger is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Talbot Avenger.

Talbot Avenger Number Plates

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

Talbot Avenger MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

74.8%
1981
71.9%
1980
74.1%
1979
79.4%
1973
81.3%
1972

Talbot Avenger Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 45
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 28
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 24
brake recording little or no effort 24
Steering rack gaiter split 23
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 20
brake binding 18
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 17
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 16
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 14

Talbot Avenger Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
115 mi/yr
Typical
477 mi/yr
Average
1,484 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,233 mi/yr

Talbot Avenger MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1981 119 74.8% 13,390 27,814 51,000
1980 153 71.9% 29,441 42,051 62,045
1979 143 74.1% 34,108 56,158 77,107
1973 131 79.4% 46,731 65,234 80,751
1972 155 81.3% 27,050 46,981 62,394

How Long Does a Talbot Avenger Last?

Based on 134 Talbot Avenger vehicles on UK roads.

Average
40.4 years
Median
42.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
54 years

Talbot Avenger Mileage Distribution

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

Median
52,500 mi
75th Percentile
70,142 mi
95th Percentile
91,931 mi
Max Recorded
968,173 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Talbot Avenger

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

Best year
1972

81.3% MOT pass rate from 155 tests

Year to avoid
1980

71.9% MOT pass rate from 153 tests

The best year to buy a used Talbot Avenger is 1972, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.3% across 155 tests. The 1980 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Talbot Avenger Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Talbot Avenger THIS CAR 77.2% 830 52,500 mi 54 yrs
Talbot Express 65.4% 171,025 71,000 mi 41 yrs
Talbot Express 1300 D 67.8% 18,667 70,636 mi 38 yrs
Talbot Express 1300 P 67% 17,936 63,256 mi 38 yrs
Honda Crf 230 F 84.4% 1,471 1,342 mi 22 yrs

Compared to the Talbot Express (65.4% pass rate) and the Talbot Express 1300 D (67.8% pass rate), the Talbot Avenger outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Talbot Avenger?

The Talbot Avenger has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.2% across 830 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 Talbot Avenger are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (45 recorded failures), body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (28), and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (24). 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 Talbot Avenger owner drives around 477 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 Talbot Avenger models stay on UK roads for around 54 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.

Talbot Avenger — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Talbot Avenger reliable?
Based on 830 MOT tests, the Talbot Avenger has a 77.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Talbot Avenger?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings, and exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Talbot Avenger do per year?
The typical Talbot Avenger does around 477 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Talbot Avenger last?
Most Talbot Avenger models stay on UK roads for around 54 years based on our analysis of 134 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Talbot Avenger?
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 Talbot Avenger?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Talbot Avenger is 1972 with a 81.3% pass rate across 155 tests.