Triumph Rocket Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Triumph Rocket car check
Is the Triumph Rocket reliable? We analysed 4,343 real MOT tests across 599 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Triumph Rocket? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Triumph Rocket is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Rocket.
Triumph Rocket Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Triumph Rocket. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Triumph Rocket MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Triumph Rocket to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Triumph Rocket Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Triumph Rocket fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Triumph Rocket Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Triumph Rocket models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Triumph Rocket Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Triumph Rocket owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Triumph Rocket MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Rocket year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 63 | 90.5% | 4,876 | 7,126 | 9,510 |
| 2017 | 136 | 86.0% | 3,880 | 6,803 | 10,696 |
| 2016 | 643 | 93.2% | 5,455 | 9,029 | 15,812 |
| 2015 | 1,257 | 91.7% | 4,795 | 8,988 | 14,456 |
| 2014 | 1,387 | 91.3% | 6,898 | 11,517 | 17,744 |
| 2013 | 170 | 88.8% | 3,442 | 8,847 | 18,123 |
| 2010 | 63 | 95.2% | 10,688 | 14,383 | 16,752 |
| 2009 | 59 | 89.8% | 4,548 | 10,465 | 28,920 |
| 2008 | 60 | 91.7% | 9,270 | 15,944 | 18,223 |
| 2006 | 132 | 90.9% | 4,360 | 11,068 | 17,310 |
| 2005 | 118 | 89.0% | 11,747 | 17,221 | 24,938 |
| 2004 | 59 | 93.2% | 8,590 | 11,482 | 13,971 |
How Long Does a Triumph Rocket Last?
Based on 599 Triumph Rocket vehicles on UK roads.
Triumph Rocket Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Rocket 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 Rocket
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
95.2% MOT pass rate from 63 tests
86.0% MOT pass rate from 136 tests
The best year to buy a used Triumph Rocket is 2010, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.2% across 63 tests. The 2017 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Triumph Rocket Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Rocket THIS CAR | 91.4% | 4,343 | 10,137 mi | 21 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 |
| Ford Kuga St-line Edition | 92% | 6,126 | 25,412 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Rocket outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Triumph Rocket 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 RocketShould you buy a used Triumph Rocket?
The Triumph Rocket has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.4% across 4,343 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common failure point is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm with 17 recorded occurrences. Check for this on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection.
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 Rocket 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 Rocket owner drives around 915 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 Rocket models stay on UK roads for around 21 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.