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Triumph Sprint Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Sprint car check

Is the Triumph Sprint reliable? We analysed 158,613 real MOT tests across 12,829 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 158,613 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
87.3%
Typical Mileage
21,242mi
Annual Mileage
1,051mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
33yrs

The Triumph Sprint 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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Sprint.

Triumph Sprint Number Plates

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

Triumph Sprint MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

88.4%
2017
92%
2016
91.7%
2015
91%
2014
90%
2013
90.9%
2012
90.7%
2011
89.4%
2010
89.7%
2009
88.7%
2008
87.7%
2007
88.2%
2006
87.3%
2005
86.4%
2004
86.7%
2003
86.5%
2002
86.4%
2001
85.4%
2000
84.7%
1999
85.4%
1998

Triumph Sprint Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Sprint 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 1,971
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,275
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 912
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 604
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 520
Headlamp aim too low 451
Roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort 449

Triumph Sprint Common Faults & Problems

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

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 760
Brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick 642

Triumph Sprint Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
363 mi/yr
Typical
1,051 mi/yr
Average
1,789 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,356 mi/yr

Triumph Sprint MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2017 121 88.4% 9,820 13,238 24,331
2016 1,343 92.0% 7,066 11,738 18,200
2015 1,865 91.7% 8,307 13,075 19,745
2014 3,132 91.0% 7,952 13,602 20,702
2013 3,082 90.0% 9,217 15,026 23,970
2012 1,778 90.9% 10,183 16,328 24,752
2011 3,275 90.7% 9,520 16,911 26,302
2010 6,812 89.4% 10,504 17,352 26,857
2009 7,349 89.7% 11,455 18,222 27,930
2008 9,377 88.7% 11,581 19,051 28,811
2007 11,853 87.7% 12,424 20,087 29,950
2006 11,796 88.2% 12,635 20,441 30,415
2005 16,127 87.3% 12,747 21,008 31,573
2004 9,154 86.4% 12,178 19,945 30,995
2003 10,848 86.7% 12,797 20,859 31,752
2002 11,075 86.5% 13,734 22,022 33,300
2001 10,669 86.4% 14,240 22,059 31,876
2000 13,775 85.4% 15,812 24,432 35,260
1999 11,488 84.7% 18,026 27,389 38,738
1998 3,022 85.4% 17,072 27,032 38,925

How Long Does a Triumph Sprint Last?

Based on 12,829 Triumph Sprint vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.1 years
Median
16.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
33 years

Triumph Sprint Mileage Distribution

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

Median
21,242 mi
75th Percentile
32,167 mi
95th Percentile
52,508 mi
Max Recorded
777,791 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Sprint

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

Best year
2016

92.0% MOT pass rate from 1,343 tests

Year to avoid
1995

84.3% MOT pass rate from 2,895 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Sprint is 2016, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.0% across 1,343 tests. The 1995 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Triumph Sprint Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Sprint THIS CAR 87.3% 158,613 21,242 mi 33 yrs
Triumph Bonneville 90.1% 235,206 7,823 mi 53 yrs
Triumph Tiger 90.6% 196,853 17,026 mi 32 yrs
Triumph Daytona 85.8% 136,043 16,233 mi 34 yrs
Honda CBR1000RR 88.2% 73,826 13,546 mi 22 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Triumph Sprint?

The Triumph Sprint has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.3% across 158,613 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 Sprint are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (1,971 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (1,275), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (912). 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 Sprint 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 Sprint owner drives around 1,051 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 Sprint models stay on UK roads for around 33 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 Sprint — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Sprint reliable?
Based on 158,613 MOT tests, the Triumph Sprint has a 87.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Sprint?
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 shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Sprint do per year?
The typical Triumph Sprint does around 1,051 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Sprint last?
Most Triumph Sprint models stay on UK roads for around 33 years based on our analysis of 12,829 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Sprint?
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 Sprint?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Sprint is 2016 with a 92.0% pass rate across 1,343 tests.