Triumph Trident Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Triumph Trident car check
Is the Triumph Trident reliable? We analysed 29,119 real MOT tests across 5,167 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Triumph Trident? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Triumph Trident is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and roller brake test indicates a binding brake. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Trident.
Triumph Trident Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Triumph Trident. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Triumph Trident MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Triumph Trident to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Triumph Trident Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Triumph Trident fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Triumph Trident Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Triumph Trident owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Triumph Trident MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Trident year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 162 | 93.2% | 2,514 | 4,690 | 8,046 |
| 2022 | 1,085 | 90.4% | 2,598 | 4,492 | 7,242 |
| 2021 | 2,702 | 92.5% | 3,088 | 5,163 | 8,232 |
| 2016 | 64 | 89.1% | 2,937 | 10,261 | 14,996 |
| 2015 | 67 | 92.5% | 7,178 | 11,805 | 19,132 |
| 2009 | 62 | 98.4% | 6,846 | 10,772 | 14,214 |
| 2005 | 60 | 88.3% | 2,605 | 10,637 | 33,730 |
| 2002 | 57 | 89.5% | 10,756 | 19,494 | 24,354 |
| 2001 | 101 | 94.1% | 8,272 | 11,210 | 25,675 |
| 2000 | 126 | 85.7% | 8,856 | 16,174 | 18,797 |
| 1999 | 847 | 87.7% | 12,196 | 20,087 | 29,108 |
| 1998 | 2,534 | 85.1% | 13,766 | 21,696 | 30,768 |
| 1997 | 1,707 | 84.8% | 15,651 | 24,820 | 36,157 |
| 1996 | 1,375 | 85.7% | 18,269 | 25,328 | 33,969 |
| 1995 | 1,536 | 86.3% | 18,969 | 27,481 | 42,305 |
| 1994 | 2,835 | 83.9% | 20,128 | 29,480 | 40,880 |
| 1993 | 5,086 | 84.2% | 20,708 | 30,681 | 42,004 |
| 1992 | 2,454 | 84.2% | 21,992 | 31,064 | 42,390 |
| 1991 | 1,199 | 85.7% | 20,044 | 30,526 | 42,419 |
| 1990 | 137 | 87.6% | 11,207 | 17,979 | 24,327 |
How Long Does a Triumph Trident Last?
Based on 5,167 Triumph Trident vehicles on UK roads.
Triumph Trident Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Trident 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 Trident
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
98.4% MOT pass rate from 62 tests
83.9% MOT pass rate from 2,835 tests
The best year to buy a used Triumph Trident is 2009, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 98.4% across 62 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 83.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Triumph Trident Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Trident THIS CAR | 87.0% | 29,119 | 23,048 mi | 54 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 |
| Ds DS7 | 85.6% | 9,395 | 36,274 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Trident trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Triumph Trident 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 TridentShould you buy a used Triumph Trident?
The Triumph Trident has an overall MOT pass rate of 87.0% across 29,119 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 Trident are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (320 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (260), and roller brake test indicates a binding brake (254). 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 Trident owner drives around 546 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 Trident models stay on UK roads for around 54 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.