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Talbot Motor Caravan Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Talbot Motor Caravan reliable? We analysed 1,521 real MOT tests across 123 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,521 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.3%
Typical Mileage
74,318mi
Annual Mileage
948mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
43yrs

The Talbot Motor Caravan is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, position lamp(s) not working and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Talbot Motor Caravan.

Talbot Motor Caravan Number Plates

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

Talbot Motor Caravan MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

68%
1992
67.5%
1990
76%
1989
62.7%
1988
66.8%
1987
66%
1986
65.6%
1985
66.4%
1984
61%
1983

Talbot Motor Caravan Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 97
position lamp(s) not working 84
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 62
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 58
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 55
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 49
Headlamp insecure 48
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 46
brake binding 44
Brake pipe excessively corroded 40

Talbot Motor Caravan Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
366 mi/yr
Typical
948 mi/yr
Average
1,773 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,093 mi/yr

Talbot Motor Caravan MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1992 100 68.0% 66,232 78,236 91,687
1990 117 67.5% 47,174 61,288 74,242
1989 50 76.0% 54,072 83,348 97,320
1988 75 62.7% 55,921 65,692 74,295
1987 413 66.8% 54,672 67,869 95,851
1986 282 66.0% 66,180 84,960 93,971
1985 151 65.6% 77,240 89,390 119,437
1984 134 66.4% 67,224 80,177 116,635
1983 59 61.0% 84,499 111,093 116,346

How Long Does a Talbot Motor Caravan Last?

Based on 123 Talbot Motor Caravan vehicles on UK roads.

Average
28.7 years
Median
29.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
43 years

Talbot Motor Caravan Mileage Distribution

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

Median
74,318 mi
75th Percentile
95,463 mi
95th Percentile
131,056 mi
Max Recorded
630,678 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Talbot Motor Caravan

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

Best year
1989

76.0% MOT pass rate from 50 tests

Year to avoid
1983

61.0% MOT pass rate from 59 tests

The best year to buy a used Talbot Motor Caravan is 1989, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 76.0% across 50 tests. The 1983 model year has the lowest pass rate at 61.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Talbot Motor Caravan Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Talbot Motor Caravan THIS CAR 66.3% 1,521 74,318 mi 43 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
Opel Ascona 76.4% 551 51,074 mi 46 yrs

Compared to the Talbot Express (65.4% pass rate) and the Talbot Express 1300 D (67.8% pass rate), the Talbot Motor Caravan sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Talbot Motor Caravan?

The Talbot Motor Caravan has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.3% across 1,521 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Talbot Motor Caravan are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (97 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (84), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (62). 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 Motor Caravan owner drives around 948 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 Motor Caravan models stay on UK roads for around 43 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 Motor Caravan — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Talbot Motor Caravan reliable?
Based on 1,521 MOT tests, the Talbot Motor Caravan has a 66.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Talbot Motor Caravan?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, position lamp(s) not working, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Talbot Motor Caravan do per year?
The typical Talbot Motor Caravan does around 948 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Talbot Motor Caravan last?
Most Talbot Motor Caravan models stay on UK roads for around 43 years based on our analysis of 123 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Talbot Motor Caravan?
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 Motor Caravan?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Talbot Motor Caravan is 1989 with a 76.0% pass rate across 50 tests.