1978 Triumph Dolomite — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

64.8%

Latest Pass Rate

919

Total Tests (All Years)

50,990 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 Triumph Dolomite as it ages.

31 yrs60.8%

→ ↓6.3%

32 yrs54.5%

→ ↑3.3%

33 yrs57.8%

→ ↓7.3%

34 yrs50.5%

→ ↑13.9%

35 yrs64.4%

→ ↓1.7%

36 yrs62.7%

→ ↑2.7%

37 yrs65.4%

→ ↓0.8%

38 yrs64.6%

→ ↑2.5%

39 yrs67.1%

→ ↓2.3%

40 yrs64.8%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	60.8%	102
32 yrs	54.5%	110
33 yrs	57.8%	109
34 yrs	50.5%	99
35 yrs	64.4%	90
36 yrs	62.7%	102
37 yrs	65.4%	81
38 yrs	64.6%	96
39 yrs	67.1%	76
40 yrs	64.8%	54

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	64.8%	54
2017 (39 yrs)	67.1%	76
2016 (38 yrs)	64.6%	96
2015 (37 yrs)	65.4%	81
2014 (36 yrs)	62.7%	102
2013 (35 yrs)	64.4%	90
2012 (34 yrs)	50.5%	99
2011 (33 yrs)	57.8%	109
2010 (32 yrs)	54.5%	110
2009 (31 yrs)	60.8%	102

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

60.8%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 102Avg Mileage 52,191Top Failure Brakes — 22.5%

2010High Fail Rate

54.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 110Avg Mileage 52,835Top Failure Suspension — 30.0%

2011High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 109Avg Mileage 53,170Top Failure Brakes — 25.7%

2012High Fail Rate

50.5%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 99Avg Mileage 53,839Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2013High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 90Avg Mileage 57,589Top Failure Brakes — 56.7%

2014High Fail Rate

62.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 102Avg Mileage 56,824Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2%

2015

65.4%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 81Avg Mileage 54,318Top Failure Suspension — 54.3%

2016High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 96Avg Mileage 58,046Top Failure Brakes — 56.3%

2017

67.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 76Avg Mileage 56,142Top Failure Suspension — 42.1%

2018High Fail Rate

64.8%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 54Avg Mileage 50,990Top Failure Brakes — 74.1%

MOT results for 1978 Triumph Dolomite by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	60.8%	102	52,191	Brakes — 22.5%
2010	32	54.5%	110	52,835	Suspension — 30.0%
2011	33	57.8%	109	53,170	Brakes — 25.7%
2012	34	50.5%	99	53,839	Suspension — 33.3%
2013	35	64.4%	90	57,589	Brakes — 56.7%
2014	36	62.7%	102	56,824	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2%
2015	37	65.4%	81	54,318	Suspension — 54.3%
2016	38	64.6%	96	58,046	Brakes — 56.3%
2017	39	67.1%	76	56,142	Suspension — 42.1%
2018	40	64.8%	54	50,990	Brakes — 74.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 Triumph Dolomite, with age trends.

Brakes

38.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

29.3%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

20.6%

— Consistent

Steering

20.3%

↑ 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	22.5% (31 yrs)	74.1% (40 yrs)	+51.6%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	21.6% (31 yrs)	46.3% (40 yrs)	+24.7%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	16.7% (31 yrs)	40.7% (40 yrs)	+24.0%	🔴 ↑
Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions	21.6% (31 yrs)	16.7% (40 yrs)	-4.9%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1971 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

← Back to Triumph Dolomite overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Triumph Dolomite page →

About This Data

This page shows how Triumph Dolomite cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 919 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.