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Triumph Herald Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Herald car check

Is the Triumph Herald reliable? We analysed 11,262 real MOT tests across 1,452 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 11,262 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.3%
Typical Mileage
54,788mi
Annual Mileage
313mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
66yrs

The Triumph Herald is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Herald.

Triumph Herald Number Plates

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

Triumph Herald MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

79.2%
1972
73.6%
1971
72.1%
1970
74.5%
1969
75.3%
1968
76.7%
1967
74%
1966
72.7%
1965
75.4%
1964
72.7%
1963
73.5%
1962
76.3%
1961
74.9%
1960

Triumph Herald Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 659
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 510
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 470
brake binding 369
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 358
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 261
parking brake recording little or no effort 241
Horn not working 235
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 235
brake recording little or no effort 199

Triumph Herald Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
91 mi/yr
Typical
313 mi/yr
Average
1,063 mi/yr
Heavy usage
857 mi/yr

Triumph Herald MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1972 53 79.2% 17,231 27,076 51,674
1971 1,588 73.6% 20,542 51,082 75,878
1970 2,048 72.1% 25,651 59,293 79,456
1969 1,277 74.5% 25,861 51,291 78,453
1968 1,622 75.3% 23,154 53,985 74,512
1967 1,217 76.7% 32,172 55,971 72,070
1966 774 74.0% 23,514 52,944 70,028
1965 677 72.7% 32,776 60,956 82,609
1964 569 75.4% 24,831 53,032 74,105
1963 428 72.7% 30,142 55,946 77,421
1962 260 73.5% 33,630 57,072 72,716
1961 245 76.3% 23,256 53,829 66,686
1960 239 74.9% 29,616 45,546 61,542

How Long Does a Triumph Herald Last?

Based on 1,452 Triumph Herald vehicles on UK roads.

Average
48.3 years
Median
49.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
66 years

Triumph Herald Mileage Distribution

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

Median
54,788 mi
75th Percentile
75,896 mi
95th Percentile
94,688 mi
Max Recorded
891,138 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Herald

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

Best year
1972

79.2% MOT pass rate from 53 tests

Year to avoid
1970

72.1% MOT pass rate from 2,048 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Herald is 1972, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 79.2% across 53 tests. The 1970 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Triumph Herald Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Herald THIS CAR 74.3% 11,262 54,788 mi 66 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
Toyota RAV4 Dynamic PHEV Auto 93.5% 5,998 33,058 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Triumph Herald?

The Triumph Herald has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.3% across 11,262 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Triumph Herald are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (659 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (510), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (470). 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 Herald owner drives around 313 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 Herald models stay on UK roads for around 66 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 Herald — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Herald reliable?
Based on 11,262 MOT tests, the Triumph Herald has a 74.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Herald?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Herald do per year?
The typical Triumph Herald does around 313 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Herald last?
Most Triumph Herald models stay on UK roads for around 66 years based on our analysis of 1,452 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Herald?
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 Herald?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Herald is 1972 with a 79.2% pass rate across 53 tests.