Talbot Express
From 10,791 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Expresss fare better: 1994 models pass at 63.8% vs 66.4% for 1989.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 1,165 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 1,165 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 951 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 678 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 656 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 568 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 564 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 494 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 433 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 356 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 347 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 44.6% of Express failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 5.7% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £136.
Talbot Express on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 271 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 271. At this rate, roughly 27.7 years until none remain. Now at 37% of its peak (20,405 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 4,053 | 3,494 | +0 | -20 | -20 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,110 | 3,457 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,713 | 3,853 | +0 | -63 | -63 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,830 | 3,799 | +0 | -188 | -188 |
| 2024 Q3 | 4,473 | 3,344 | +0 | -20 | -20 |
| 2024 Q2 | 4,601 | 3,236 | +0 | -0 | +40 |
| 2024 Q1 | 4,226 | 3,571 | +0 | -212 | -212 |
| 2023 Q4 | 4,233 | 3,776 | +0 | -70 | -70 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express 1300 D | Diesel | 1,323 | 33% |
| Express 1300 P | Gas | 1,070 | 27% |
| Express 1000 P | Petrol | 873 | 22% |
| Express 1500 D | Petrol | 361 | 9% |
| Express | Petrol | 203 | 5% |
| Express 1500 P | Gas | 127 | 3% |
| Express 1000 D | Diesel | 60 | 1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 63.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 1993 | 62.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1992 | 60.8% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 1991 | 64.2% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
5 earlier years
| 1990 | 64.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1989 | 66.4% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led |
| 1988 | 65% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1987 | 62.6% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 1986 | 61.5% | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
Typical mileage
Half of all Expresss tested had between 69,159 and 101,181 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 82,045 median miles, the Express has 0.045 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Talbot models
Common questions
What is the Talbot Express MOT pass rate?
The Talbot Express has a 63.3% MOT pass rate based on 10,791 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Talbot Express?
The most common MOT failure on the Talbot Express is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 1,165 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
How many Talbot Expresss are on UK roads?
There are 4,053 Talbot Expresss currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,494 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Talbot Express at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Talbot Express is 82,045 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 69,159 and 101,181 miles.
Buying a used Express?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 63.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £136 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 44.6% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.