Triumph Tiger Cub Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Triumph Tiger Cub car check
Is the Triumph Tiger Cub reliable? We analysed 3,073 real MOT tests across 770 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Triumph Tiger Cub? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Triumph Tiger Cub is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Tiger Cub.
Triumph Tiger Cub Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Triumph Tiger Cub. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Triumph Tiger Cub MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Triumph Tiger Cub to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Triumph Tiger Cub Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Triumph Tiger Cub fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Triumph Tiger Cub Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Triumph Tiger Cub owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Triumph Tiger Cub MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Tiger Cub year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 67 | 92.5% | 264 | 541 | 732 |
| 2005 | 58 | 94.8% | 66 | 6,433 | 37,238 |
| 1968 | 72 | 90.3% | 9,478 | 14,308 | 29,424 |
| 1967 | 119 | 93.3% | 5,201 | 8,474 | 23,822 |
| 1966 | 122 | 89.3% | 5,938 | 12,732 | 24,307 |
| 1965 | 169 | 89.9% | 2,817 | 7,760 | 16,682 |
| 1964 | 210 | 92.4% | 1,524 | 9,514 | 22,297 |
| 1963 | 251 | 90.8% | 2,520 | 15,235 | 19,653 |
| 1962 | 176 | 93.2% | 3,641 | 15,007 | 25,740 |
| 1961 | 333 | 91.0% | 1,487 | 5,443 | 15,217 |
| 1960 | 226 | 90.3% | 1,202 | 10,349 | 20,237 |
| 1959 | 130 | 86.2% | 1,145 | 4,370 | 18,497 |
| 1958 | 67 | 89.6% | 354 | 10,385 | 16,846 |
| 1957 | 51 | 90.2% | 1,550 | 5,830 | 13,763 |
How Long Does a Triumph Tiger Cub Last?
Based on 770 Triumph Tiger Cub vehicles on UK roads.
Triumph Tiger Cub Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Tiger Cub 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 Tiger Cub
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
94.8% MOT pass rate from 58 tests
86.2% MOT pass rate from 130 tests
The best year to buy a used Triumph Tiger Cub is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 94.8% across 58 tests. The 1959 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Triumph Tiger Cub Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Tiger Cub THIS CAR | 91.0% | 3,073 | 7,011 mi | 69 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 |
| Lexmoto Ht | 70.2% | 1,888 | 6,730 mi | 15 yrs |
Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Tiger Cub outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Triumph Tiger Cub 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 Tiger CubShould you buy a used Triumph Tiger Cub?
The Triumph Tiger Cub has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.0% across 3,073 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 Tiger Cub are steering headbearing has excessive free play (12 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (10), and position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on (8). 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 Tiger Cub owner drives around 61 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 Tiger Cub models stay on UK roads for around 69 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.