1978 Reliant Scimitar — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

57.5%

Latest Pass Rate

876

Total Tests (All Years)

56,223 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 1978 Reliant Scimitar as it ages.

31 yrs56.8%

→ ↑5.3%

32 yrs62.1%

→ ↓10.6%

33 yrs51.5%

→ ↑2.2%

34 yrs53.7%

→ ↓2.6%

35 yrs51.1%

→ ↑8.2%

36 yrs59.3%

→ ↑2.7%

37 yrs62.0%

→ ↓4.1%

38 yrs57.9%

→ ↑10.2%

39 yrs68.1%

→ ↓10.6%

40 yrs57.5%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	56.8%	118
32 yrs	62.1%	103
33 yrs	51.5%	101
34 yrs	53.7%	95
35 yrs	51.1%	90
36 yrs	59.3%	86
37 yrs	62.0%	79
38 yrs	57.9%	95
39 yrs	68.1%	69
40 yrs	57.5%	40

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 Reliant Scimitar pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	57.5%	40
2017 (39 yrs)	68.1%	69
2016 (38 yrs)	57.9%	95
2015 (37 yrs)	62%	79
2014 (36 yrs)	59.3%	86
2013 (35 yrs)	51.1%	90
2012 (34 yrs)	53.7%	95
2011 (33 yrs)	51.5%	101
2010 (32 yrs)	62.1%	103
2009 (31 yrs)	56.8%	118

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 118Avg Mileage 43,884Top Failure Brakes — 25.4%

2010High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 103Avg Mileage 47,513Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%

2011High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 101Avg Mileage 45,568Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%

2012High Fail Rate

53.7%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 95Avg Mileage 49,117Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%

2013High Fail Rate

51.1%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 90Avg Mileage 50,418Top Failure Suspension — 58.9%

2014High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 86Avg Mileage 46,659Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.1%

2015High Fail Rate

62.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 79Avg Mileage 49,709Top Failure Brakes — 36.7%

2016High Fail Rate

57.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 95Avg Mileage 51,272Top Failure Brakes — 65.3%

2017

68.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 69Avg Mileage 56,731Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.5%

2018High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 40Avg Mileage 56,223Top Failure Suspension — 62.5%

MOT results for 1978 Reliant Scimitar by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	56.8%	118	43,884	Brakes — 25.4%
2010	32	62.1%	103	47,513	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.3%
2011	33	51.5%	101	45,568	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 36.6%
2012	34	53.7%	95	49,117	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%
2013	35	51.1%	90	50,418	Suspension — 58.9%
2014	36	59.3%	86	46,659	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 72.1%
2015	37	62.0%	79	49,709	Brakes — 36.7%
2016	38	57.9%	95	51,272	Brakes — 65.3%
2017	39	68.1%	69	56,731	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.5%
2018	40	57.5%	40	56,223	Suspension — 62.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Reliant Scimitar, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

42.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

39.4%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

35.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

23.2%

— Consistent

Steering

20.0%

↑ 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
Suspension	16.1% (31 yrs)	62.5% (40 yrs)	+46.4%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	25.4% (31 yrs)	57.5% (40 yrs)	+32.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	25.4% (31 yrs)	45.0% (40 yrs)	+19.6%	🔴 ↑
Steering	16.9% (31 yrs)	22.5% (40 yrs)	+5.6%	🔴 ↑

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 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 876 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.