1971 Reliant Scimitar — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

71.9%

Latest Pass Rate

1,832

Total Tests (All Years)

52,259 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 Reliant Scimitar as it ages.

38 yrs65.5%

→ ↓1.5%

39 yrs64.0%

→ ↑0.3%

40 yrs64.3%

→ ↑2.7%

41 yrs67.0%

→ ↓3.8%

42 yrs63.2%

→ ↓2.3%

43 yrs60.9%

→ ↑8.7%

44 yrs69.6%

→ ↓2.5%

45 yrs67.1%

→ ↑1.4%

46 yrs68.5%

→ ↑1.9%

47 yrs70.4%

→ ↑16.7%

48 yrs87.1%

→ ↓15.2%

49 yrs71.9%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	65.5%	223
39 yrs	64.0%	211
40 yrs	64.3%	207
41 yrs	67.0%	185
42 yrs	63.2%	190
43 yrs	60.9%	184
44 yrs	69.6%	181
45 yrs	67.1%	161
46 yrs	68.5%	146
47 yrs	70.4%	81
48 yrs	87.1%	31
49 yrs	71.9%	32

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Reliant Scimitar pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2020 (49 yrs)	71.9%	32
2019 (48 yrs)	87.1%	31
2018 (47 yrs)	70.4%	81
2017 (46 yrs)	68.5%	146
2016 (45 yrs)	67.1%	161
2015 (44 yrs)	69.6%	181
2014 (43 yrs)	60.9%	184
2013 (42 yrs)	63.2%	190
2012 (41 yrs)	67%	185
2011 (40 yrs)	64.3%	207
2010 (39 yrs)	64%	211
2009 (38 yrs)	65.5%	223

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

65.5%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 223Avg Mileage 48,167Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%

2010High Fail Rate

64.0%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 211Avg Mileage 51,606Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%

2011High Fail Rate

64.3%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 207Avg Mileage 51,559Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%

2012

67.0%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 185Avg Mileage 50,653Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%

2013High Fail Rate

63.2%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 190Avg Mileage 54,630Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.2%

2014High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 184Avg Mileage 44,287Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.7%

2015

69.6%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 181Avg Mileage 44,364Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.6%

2016

67.1%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 161Avg Mileage 45,672Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.8%

2017

68.5%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 146Avg Mileage 46,502Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.5%

2018

70.4%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 81Avg Mileage 40,443Top Failure Brakes — 46.9%

2019

87.1%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 31Avg Mileage 51,022Top Failure Suspension — 9.7%

2020

71.9%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 32Avg Mileage 52,259Top Failure Brakes — 53.1%

MOT results for 1971 Reliant Scimitar by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	65.5%	223	48,167	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.8%
2010	39	64.0%	211	51,606	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.2%
2011	40	64.3%	207	51,559	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.6%
2012	41	67.0%	185	50,653	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.0%
2013	42	63.2%	190	54,630	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 64.2%
2014	43	60.9%	184	44,287	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.7%
2015	44	69.6%	181	44,364	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 58.6%
2016	45	67.1%	161	45,672	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.8%
2017	46	68.5%	146	46,502	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 55.5%
2018	47	70.4%	81	40,443	Brakes — 46.9%
2019	48	87.1%	31	51,022	Suspension — 9.7%
2020	49	71.9%	32	52,259	Brakes — 53.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Reliant Scimitar, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

39.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

32.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

24.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

23.7%

— Consistent

Driver's View of the Road

14.2%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	20.2% (38 yrs)	53.1% (49 yrs)	+32.9%	🔴 ↑
Steering	12.1% (38 yrs)	21.9% (49 yrs)	+9.8%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	18.4% (38 yrs)	18.8% (49 yrs)	+0.4%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Reliant Scimitar page →

About This Data

This page shows how Reliant Scimitar cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2020, covering 1,832 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.