Triumph 5TA Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Triumph 5TA car check
Is the Triumph 5TA reliable? We analysed 1,474 real MOT tests across 306 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Triumph 5TA? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Triumph 5TA is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and wheel bearings have excessive free play. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph 5TA.
Triumph 5TA Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Triumph 5TA. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Triumph 5TA MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Triumph 5TA to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Triumph 5TA Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Triumph 5TA fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Triumph 5TA Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Triumph 5TA owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Triumph 5TA MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph 5TA year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 123 | 95.9% | 2,043 | 10,706 | 27,823 |
| 1965 | 77 | 92.2% | 5,878 | 8,875 | 17,340 |
| 1964 | 68 | 89.7% | 1,676 | 4,286 | 29,768 |
| 1963 | 79 | 87.3% | 9,234 | 14,978 | 42,782 |
| 1962 | 97 | 92.8% | 1,713 | 13,250 | 35,002 |
| 1961 | 144 | 91.0% | 1,540 | 5,630 | 25,678 |
| 1960 | 212 | 92.9% | 6,930 | 12,671 | 30,684 |
| 1959 | 190 | 88.9% | 3,904 | 7,774 | 44,938 |
How Long Does a Triumph 5TA Last?
Based on 306 Triumph 5TA vehicles on UK roads.
Triumph 5TA Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Triumph 5TA 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 Triumph 5TA
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
95.9% MOT pass rate from 123 tests
87.3% MOT pass rate from 79 tests
The best year to buy a used Triumph 5TA is 1966, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.9% across 123 tests. The 1963 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Triumph 5TA Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph 5TA THIS CAR | 91.7% | 1,474 | 9,158 mi | 67 yrs |
| Triumph Bonneville | 90.1% | 235,206 | 7,823 mi | 53 yrs |
| Triumph Tiger | 90.6% | 196,853 | 17,026 mi | 32 yrs |
| Triumph Sprint | 87.3% | 158,613 | 21,242 mi | 33 yrs |
| Yamaha DT250 | 82.7% | 792 | 11,179 mi | 50 yrs |
Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph 5TA outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Triumph 5TA 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 Triumph 5TAShould you buy a used Triumph 5TA?
The Triumph 5TA has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.7% across 1,474 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 Triumph 5TA are steering headbearing has excessive free play (7 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (7), and wheel bearings have excessive free play (5). 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 Triumph 5TA owner drives around 128 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 Triumph 5TA models stay on UK roads for around 67 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.