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Triumph Trident Sprint Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Trident Sprint car check

Is the Triumph Trident Sprint reliable? We analysed 1,029 real MOT tests across 101 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,029 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.6%
Typical Mileage
27,383mi
Annual Mileage
718mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Triumph Trident Sprint is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Trident Sprint.

Triumph Trident Sprint Number Plates

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

Triumph Trident Sprint MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

86.2%
1999
85.6%
1998
84.7%
1997

Triumph Trident Sprint Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Trident Sprint fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 22
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 15
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 15
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 14
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 10
Brake disc(s) friction surface contaminated by oil or grease 6
position lamp does not illuminate immediately when it is switched on 6
Horn not working 5
Footrest insecure 5

Triumph Trident Sprint Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
210 mi/yr
Typical
718 mi/yr
Average
1,464 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,755 mi/yr

Triumph Trident Sprint MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1999 210 86.2% 19,826 27,619 33,689
1998 452 85.6% 16,350 25,403 40,764
1997 313 84.7% 22,547 29,267 36,180

How Long Does a Triumph Trident Sprint Last?

Based on 101 Triumph Trident Sprint vehicles on UK roads.

Average
20.2 years
Median
22.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Triumph Trident Sprint Mileage Distribution

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

Median
27,383 mi
75th Percentile
36,738 mi
95th Percentile
53,413 mi
Max Recorded
381,517 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Trident Sprint

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

Best year
1999

86.2% MOT pass rate from 210 tests

Year to avoid
1997

84.7% MOT pass rate from 313 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Trident Sprint is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.2% across 210 tests. The 1997 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 Trident Sprint Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Trident Sprint THIS CAR 85.6% 1,029 27,383 mi 29 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
Pulse Wy 125 T-74 Lightspeed 2 71.7% 1,182 8,509 mi 14 yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Triumph Trident Sprint?

The Triumph Trident Sprint has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.6% 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 Trident Sprint are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (22 recorded failures), tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (15), and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (15). 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 Sprint owner drives around 718 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 Sprint models stay on UK roads for around 29 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 Trident Sprint — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Trident Sprint reliable?
Based on 1,029 MOT tests, the Triumph Trident Sprint has a 85.6% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Trident Sprint?
The most common MOT failures are shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil, tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, and stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Trident Sprint do per year?
The typical Triumph Trident Sprint does around 718 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Trident Sprint last?
Most Triumph Trident Sprint models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 101 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Trident 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 Trident Sprint?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Trident Sprint is 1999 with a 86.2% pass rate across 210 tests.