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Triumph Legend Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Legend car check

Is the Triumph Legend reliable? We analysed 14,241 real MOT tests across 1,038 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 14,241 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
88.5%
Typical Mileage
15,244mi
Annual Mileage
511mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Triumph Legend is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Legend.

Triumph Legend Number Plates

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

Triumph Legend MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.7%
2003
92.7%
2002
88.9%
2001
87.5%
2000
88.7%
1999
88.2%
1998

Triumph Legend Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Legend 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 149
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 106
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 89
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 62
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 43
wheel bearings have excessive free play 28
Drive chain excessively loose 27
Exhaust markings indicating not for road use or similar wording 24

Triumph Legend Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 25

Triumph Legend Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
174 mi/yr
Typical
511 mi/yr
Average
1,024 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,230 mi/yr

Triumph Legend MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 62 88.7% 4,022 6,712 12,620
2002 123 92.7% 7,480 11,974 17,858
2001 2,828 88.9% 9,128 15,200 24,098
2000 2,869 87.5% 8,213 14,437 23,249
1999 5,834 88.7% 9,299 15,608 23,980
1998 2,380 88.2% 9,470 15,556 23,591

How Long Does a Triumph Legend Last?

Based on 1,038 Triumph Legend vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.2 years
Median
23.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Triumph Legend Mileage Distribution

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

Median
15,244 mi
75th Percentile
23,720 mi
95th Percentile
40,120 mi
Max Recorded
299,462 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Legend

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

Best year
2002

92.7% MOT pass rate from 123 tests

Year to avoid
2000

87.5% MOT pass rate from 2,869 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Legend is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.7% across 123 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 87.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Triumph Legend Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Legend THIS CAR 88.5% 14,241 15,244 mi 28 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
Nissan Micra S 76.3% 4,901 79,752 mi 21 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Triumph Legend?

The Triumph Legend has an overall MOT pass rate of 88.5% across 14,241 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 Legend are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (149 recorded failures), shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (106), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (89). 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 tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Triumph Legend 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 Legend owner drives around 511 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 Legend models stay on UK roads for around 28 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 Legend — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Legend reliable?
Based on 14,241 MOT tests, the Triumph Legend has a 88.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Legend?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Legend do per year?
The typical Triumph Legend does around 511 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Legend last?
Most Triumph Legend models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 1,038 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Legend?
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 Legend?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Legend is 2002 with a 92.7% pass rate across 123 tests.