1979 Reliant Scimitar — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

67.6%

Latest Pass Rate

920

Total Tests (All Years)

44,039 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 1979 Reliant Scimitar as it ages.

30 yrs61.5%

→ ↓1.3%

31 yrs60.2%

→ ↓3.9%

32 yrs56.3%

→ ↑4.6%

33 yrs60.9%

→ ↑1.2%

34 yrs62.1%

→ ↓7.8%

35 yrs54.3%

→ ↑10.3%

36 yrs64.6%

→ ↑9.2%

37 yrs73.8%

→ ↓6.2%

38 yrs67.6%

→ ↑11.6%

39 yrs79.2%

→ ↓3.0%

40 yrs76.2%

→ ↓8.6%

42 yrs67.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	61.5%	104
31 yrs	60.2%	98
32 yrs	56.3%	103
33 yrs	60.9%	87
34 yrs	62.1%	87
35 yrs	54.3%	81
36 yrs	64.6%	82
37 yrs	73.8%	80
38 yrs	67.6%	74
39 yrs	79.2%	48
40 yrs	76.2%	42
42 yrs	67.6%	34

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 Reliant Scimitar pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (42 yrs)	67.6%	34
2019 (40 yrs)	76.2%	42
2018 (39 yrs)	79.2%	48
2017 (38 yrs)	67.6%	74
2016 (37 yrs)	73.8%	80
2015 (36 yrs)	64.6%	82
2014 (35 yrs)	54.3%	81
2013 (34 yrs)	62.1%	87
2012 (33 yrs)	60.9%	87
2011 (32 yrs)	56.3%	103
2010 (31 yrs)	60.2%	98
2009 (30 yrs)	61.5%	104

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 104Avg Mileage 48,373Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.2%

2010High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 98Avg Mileage 45,147Top Failure Brakes — 23.5%

2011High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 103Avg Mileage 47,969Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%

2012High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 87Avg Mileage 48,054Top Failure Suspension — 23.0%

2013High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 87Avg Mileage 52,830Top Failure Suspension — 44.8%

2014High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 81Avg Mileage 50,230Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.1%

2015High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 82Avg Mileage 52,636Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%

2016

73.8%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 80Avg Mileage 49,172Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.8%

2017

67.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 74Avg Mileage 48,660Top Failure Suspension — 50.0%

2018

79.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 48Avg Mileage 55,377Top Failure Suspension — 25.0%

2019

76.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 42Avg Mileage 48,728Top Failure Brakes — 28.6%

2021

67.6%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 34Avg Mileage 44,039Top Failure Suspension — 41.2%

MOT results for 1979 Reliant Scimitar by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	61.5%	104	48,373	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.2%
2010	31	60.2%	98	45,147	Brakes — 23.5%
2011	32	56.3%	103	47,969	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.2%
2012	33	60.9%	87	48,054	Suspension — 23.0%
2013	34	62.1%	87	52,830	Suspension — 44.8%
2014	35	54.3%	81	50,230	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.1%
2015	36	64.6%	82	52,636	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.7%
2016	37	73.8%	80	49,172	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 38.8%
2017	38	67.6%	74	48,660	Suspension — 50.0%
2018	39	79.2%	48	55,377	Suspension — 25.0%
2019	40	76.2%	42	48,728	Brakes — 28.6%
2021	42	67.6%	34	44,039	Suspension — 41.2%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 Reliant Scimitar, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

35.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

28.2%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

24.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

22.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

19.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	20.2% (30 yrs)	41.2% (42 yrs)	+21.0%	🔴 ↑
Steering	9.6% (30 yrs)	14.7% (42 yrs)	+5.1%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	16.3% (30 yrs)	11.8% (42 yrs)	-4.5%	🟢 ↓

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 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 920 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.