Tvr 290 S Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Tvr 290 S car check
Is the Tvr 290 S reliable? We analysed 4,357 real MOT tests across 315 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Tvr 290 S? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Tvr 290 S is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Tvr 290 S.
Tvr 290 S Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Tvr 290 S. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Tvr 290 S MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Tvr 290 S to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Tvr 290 S Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Tvr 290 S fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Tvr 290 S Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Tvr 290 S owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Tvr 290 S MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Tvr 290 S year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 71 | 91.5% | 25,311 | 34,942 | 38,969 |
| 1993 | 183 | 81.4% | 41,267 | 55,238 | 69,692 |
| 1992 | 915 | 81.0% | 37,550 | 54,947 | 73,644 |
| 1991 | 1,918 | 81.2% | 47,676 | 63,398 | 79,084 |
| 1990 | 1,094 | 77.1% | 51,090 | 73,909 | 92,960 |
| 1989 | 119 | 79.0% | 46,502 | 58,832 | 78,422 |
How Long Does a Tvr 290 S Last?
Based on 315 Tvr 290 S vehicles on UK roads.
Tvr 290 S Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Tvr 290 S 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 Tvr 290 S
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
91.5% MOT pass rate from 71 tests
77.1% MOT pass rate from 1,094 tests
The best year to buy a used Tvr 290 S is 1994, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 91.5% across 71 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 77.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Tvr 290 S Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tvr 290 S THIS CAR | 80.3% | 4,357 | 62,407 mi | 37 yrs |
| Tvr Chimaera | 81.6% | 74,906 | 48,330 mi | 33 yrs |
| Tvr Tuscan | 83.1% | 24,752 | 29,914 mi | 26 yrs |
| Tvr Cerbera | 79.1% | 15,904 | 39,424 mi | 30 yrs |
| Seat Arona FR Ecotsi S-a | 88.8% | 3,171 | 26,142 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Tvr Chimaera (81.6% pass rate) and the Tvr Tuscan (83.1% pass rate), the Tvr 290 S trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Tvr 290 S 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 Tvr 290 SShould you buy a used Tvr 290 S?
The Tvr 290 S has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.3% across 4,357 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 Tvr 290 S are stop lamp not working (61 recorded failures), vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (60), and position lamp(s) not working (57). 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 Tvr 290 S owner drives around 606 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 Tvr 290 S models stay on UK roads for around 37 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.