Talbot Horizon Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Talbot Horizon car check
Is the Talbot Horizon reliable? We analysed 1,075 real MOT tests across 202 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Talbot Horizon? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Talbot Horizon is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brake binding and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Talbot Horizon.
Talbot Horizon Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Talbot Horizon. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Talbot Horizon MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Talbot Horizon to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Talbot Horizon Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Talbot Horizon fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Talbot Horizon Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Talbot Horizon owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Talbot Horizon MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Talbot Horizon year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 501 | 69.9% | 43,288 | 59,114 | 80,333 |
| 1984 | 199 | 68.3% | 35,031 | 50,914 | 88,696 |
| 1983 | 159 | 75.5% | 40,183 | 55,543 | 69,466 |
| 1982 | 70 | 65.7% | 36,847 | 69,589 | 185,420 |
How Long Does a Talbot Horizon Last?
Based on 202 Talbot Horizon vehicles on UK roads.
Talbot Horizon Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Talbot Horizon 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 Talbot Horizon
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
75.5% MOT pass rate from 159 tests
65.7% MOT pass rate from 70 tests
The best year to buy a used Talbot Horizon is 1983, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.5% across 159 tests. The 1982 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Talbot Horizon Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Talbot Horizon THIS CAR | 69.9% | 1,075 | 54,808 mi | 44 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 |
| Piaggio Zip 100 | 76.9% | 1,249 | 9,503 mi | 20 yrs |
Compared to the Talbot Express (65.4% pass rate) and the Talbot Express 1300 D (67.8% pass rate), the Talbot Horizon outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Talbot Horizon 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 Talbot HorizonShould you buy a used Talbot Horizon?
The Talbot Horizon has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.9% across 1,075 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Talbot Horizon are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (92 recorded failures), brake binding (41), and brake pipe excessively corroded (41). 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 Horizon owner drives around 1,134 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 Horizon models stay on UK roads for around 44 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.