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Triumph Sprint RS Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Sprint RS car check

Is the Triumph Sprint RS reliable? We analysed 1,029 real MOT tests across 120 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,029 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
86.0%
Typical Mileage
18,840mi
Annual Mileage
875mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
26yrs

The Triumph Sprint RS 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 headlamp aim too low. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Sprint RS.

Triumph Sprint RS Number Plates

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

Triumph Sprint RS MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

85.8%
2004
86.2%
2003
85.5%
2002
85.8%
2001
84.7%
2000

Triumph Sprint RS Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Sprint RS 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 18
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 16
Headlamp aim too low 7
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 6
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 6
Brake disc(s) has excessive run out 5
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 4
Direction indicator affected by the operation of another lamp 4

Triumph Sprint RS Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
273 mi/yr
Typical
875 mi/yr
Average
1,824 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,247 mi/yr

Triumph Sprint RS MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2004 120 85.8% 9,818 14,706 22,387
2003 167 86.2% 9,146 29,125 49,297
2002 172 85.5% 9,658 16,833 28,822
2001 211 85.8% 12,628 18,944 26,455
2000 268 84.7% 15,200 20,321 31,348

How Long Does a Triumph Sprint RS Last?

Based on 120 Triumph Sprint RS vehicles on UK roads.

Average
13.7 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
26 years

Triumph Sprint RS Mileage Distribution

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

Median
18,840 mi
75th Percentile
30,816 mi
95th Percentile
56,923 mi
Max Recorded
146,971 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Sprint RS

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

Best year
2003

86.2% MOT pass rate from 167 tests

Year to avoid
2000

84.7% MOT pass rate from 268 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Sprint RS is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.2% across 167 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 84.7% — 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 RS Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Sprint RS THIS CAR 86.0% 1,029 18,840 mi 26 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 Tekna 87.4% 697 55,436 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Triumph Sprint RS?

The Triumph Sprint RS has an overall MOT pass rate of 86.0% across 1,029 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 RS are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (18 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (16), and headlamp aim too low (7). 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 Sprint RS owner drives around 875 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 RS models stay on UK roads for around 26 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 RS — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Sprint RS reliable?
Based on 1,029 MOT tests, the Triumph Sprint RS has a 86.0% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Sprint RS?
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 headlamp aim too low. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Sprint RS do per year?
The typical Triumph Sprint RS does around 875 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Sprint RS last?
Most Triumph Sprint RS models stay on UK roads for around 26 years based on our analysis of 120 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Sprint RS?
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 RS?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Sprint RS is 2003 with a 86.2% pass rate across 167 tests.