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Triumph America Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Triumph America reliable? We analysed 6,285 real MOT tests across 549 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,285 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.2%
Typical Mileage
9,139mi
Annual Mileage
556mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Triumph America is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph America.

Triumph America Number Plates

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

Triumph America MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

96.4%
2015
96.8%
2014
84.8%
2013
89.4%
2012
91.8%
2011
88.5%
2010
90.6%
2009
85.1%
2008
89.9%
2007
88.5%
2006
87.1%
2005
88.9%
2004
83.6%
2003

Triumph America Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 31
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 27
Exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording 24
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 18
wheel bearings are excessively rough 11
wheel bearings have excessive free play 9

Triumph America Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Triumph America models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 27
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 19

Triumph America Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
188 mi/yr
Typical
556 mi/yr
Average
1,049 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,329 mi/yr

Triumph America MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2015 55 96.4% 4,479 5,823 9,792
2014 190 96.8% 4,784 7,933 11,034
2013 66 84.8% 5,452 8,677 11,587
2012 254 89.4% 4,646 8,890 13,591
2011 736 91.8% 3,825 7,262 12,391
2010 703 88.5% 4,693 9,169 15,525
2009 980 90.6% 5,073 8,633 13,982
2008 852 85.1% 5,904 10,757 17,946
2007 965 89.9% 5,275 9,382 15,867
2006 485 88.5% 6,188 11,602 17,319
2005 279 87.1% 3,384 7,241 11,449
2004 531 88.9% 5,172 10,862 18,658
2003 55 83.6% 4,077 9,699 13,440

How Long Does a Triumph America Last?

Based on 549 Triumph America vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.9 years
Median
15.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Triumph America Mileage Distribution

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

Median
9,139 mi
75th Percentile
15,194 mi
95th Percentile
28,963 mi
Max Recorded
172,300 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph America

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

Best year
2014

96.8% MOT pass rate from 190 tests

Year to avoid
2003

83.6% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph America is 2014, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 96.8% across 190 tests. The 2003 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Triumph America Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph America THIS CAR 89.2% 6,285 9,139 mi 23 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
Seat Leon SE TDI 88.2% 9,715 96,137 mi — yrs

Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph America trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Triumph America?

The Triumph America has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.2% across 6,285 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 America are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (31 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (27), and exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording (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.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Triumph America with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Triumph America owner drives around 556 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 America models stay on UK roads for around 23 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.

Triumph America — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph America reliable?
Based on 6,285 MOT tests, the Triumph America has a 89.2% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph America?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph America do per year?
The typical Triumph America does around 556 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph America last?
Most Triumph America models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 549 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph America?
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 Triumph America?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph America is 2014 with a 96.8% pass rate across 190 tests.