1989 Reliant Scimitar — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1989 perform at MOT as they age

37 years

Current Age

72.7%

Latest Pass Rate

288

Total Tests (All Years)

81,536 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 1989 Reliant Scimitar as it ages.

20 yrs64.1%

→ ↑9.7%

21 yrs73.8%

→ ↓8.2%

22 yrs65.6%

→ ↓4.5%

23 yrs61.1%

→ ↑16.3%

24 yrs77.4%

→ ↓18.0%

27 yrs59.4%

→ ↑3.1%

28 yrs62.5%

→ ↑10.2%

35 yrs72.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
20 yrs	64.1%	39
21 yrs	73.8%	42
22 yrs	65.6%	32
23 yrs	61.1%	36
24 yrs	77.4%	31
27 yrs	59.4%	32
28 yrs	62.5%	32
35 yrs	72.7%	44

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1989 Reliant Scimitar pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (35 yrs)	72.7%	44
2017 (28 yrs)	62.5%	32
2016 (27 yrs)	59.4%	32
2013 (24 yrs)	77.4%	31
2012 (23 yrs)	61.1%	36
2011 (22 yrs)	65.6%	32
2010 (21 yrs)	73.8%	42
2009 (20 yrs)	64.1%	39

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

64.1%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 39Avg Mileage 69,700Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%

2010

73.8%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 42Avg Mileage 74,204Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.0%

2011

65.6%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 32Avg Mileage 77,985Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.8%

2012High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 36Avg Mileage 79,634Top Failure Suspension — 30.6%

2013

77.4%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 31Avg Mileage 77,136Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.2%

2016High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 32Avg Mileage 73,113Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.8%

2017High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 32Avg Mileage 72,858Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%

2024

72.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 44Avg Mileage 81,536Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 72.7%

MOT results for 1989 Reliant Scimitar by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	20	64.1%	39	69,700	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 33.3%
2010	21	73.8%	42	74,204	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.0%
2011	22	65.6%	32	77,985	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.8%
2012	23	61.1%	36	79,634	Suspension — 30.6%
2013	24	77.4%	31	77,136	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.2%
2016	27	59.4%	32	73,113	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.8%
2017	28	62.5%	32	72,858	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.1%
2024	35	72.7%	44	81,536	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 72.7%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1989 Reliant Scimitar, with age trends.

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

72.7%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.0%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

28.1%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

18.2%

— Consistent

Brakes

17.2%

↑ 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
Suspension	15.4% (20 yrs)	59.1% (35 yrs)	+43.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	10.3% (20 yrs)	18.2% (35 yrs)	+7.9%	🔴 ↑

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 1989 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 288 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.