1981 Triumph Dolomite — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1981 perform at MOT as they age

45 years

Current Age

74.4%

Latest Pass Rate

541

Total Tests (All Years)

53,857 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 1981 Triumph Dolomite as it ages.

28 yrs51.6%

→ ↑5.5%

29 yrs57.1%

→ ↑9.6%

30 yrs66.7%

→ ↓24.1%

31 yrs42.6%

→ ↑18.9%

32 yrs61.5%

→ ↓8.0%

33 yrs53.5%

→ ↓1.2%

34 yrs52.3%

→ ↑15.1%

35 yrs67.4%

→ ↓8.2%

36 yrs59.2%

→ ↓6.6%

37 yrs52.6%

→ ↑6.2%

38 yrs58.8%

→ ↑15.6%

40 yrs74.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
28 yrs	51.6%	62
29 yrs	57.1%	49
30 yrs	66.7%	54
31 yrs	42.6%	47
32 yrs	61.5%	39
33 yrs	53.5%	43
34 yrs	52.3%	44
35 yrs	67.4%	43
36 yrs	59.2%	49
37 yrs	52.6%	38
38 yrs	58.8%	34
40 yrs	74.4%	39

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1981 Triumph Dolomite pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2021 (40 yrs)	74.4%	39
2019 (38 yrs)	58.8%	34
2018 (37 yrs)	52.6%	38
2017 (36 yrs)	59.2%	49
2016 (35 yrs)	67.4%	43
2015 (34 yrs)	52.3%	44
2014 (33 yrs)	53.5%	43
2013 (32 yrs)	61.5%	39
2012 (31 yrs)	42.6%	47
2011 (30 yrs)	66.7%	54
2010 (29 yrs)	57.1%	49
2009 (28 yrs)	51.6%	62

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

51.6%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 62Avg Mileage 65,987Top Failure Suspension — 35.5%

2010High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 49Avg Mileage 56,115Top Failure Suspension — 20.4%

2011

66.7%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 54Avg Mileage 58,438Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.8%

2012High Fail Rate

42.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 47Avg Mileage 56,289Top Failure Steering — 34.0%

2013High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 39Avg Mileage 53,566Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 87.2%

2014High Fail Rate

53.5%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 43Avg Mileage 53,892Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.1%

2015High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 44Avg Mileage 57,153Top Failure Suspension — 68.2%

2016

67.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 43Avg Mileage 53,677Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.9%

2017High Fail Rate

59.2%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 49Avg Mileage 49,066Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.1%

2018High Fail Rate

52.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 38Avg Mileage 50,932Top Failure Suspension — 57.9%

2019High Fail Rate

58.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 34Avg Mileage 55,304Top Failure Brakes — 52.9%

2021

74.4%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 39Avg Mileage 53,857Top Failure Brakes — 51.3%

MOT results for 1981 Triumph Dolomite by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	28	51.6%	62	65,987	Suspension — 35.5%
2010	29	57.1%	49	56,115	Suspension — 20.4%
2011	30	66.7%	54	58,438	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.8%
2012	31	42.6%	47	56,289	Steering — 34.0%
2013	32	61.5%	39	53,566	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 87.2%
2014	33	53.5%	43	53,892	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 65.1%
2015	34	52.3%	44	57,153	Suspension — 68.2%
2016	35	67.4%	43	53,677	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 41.9%
2017	36	59.2%	49	49,066	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 57.1%
2018	37	52.6%	38	50,932	Suspension — 57.9%
2019	38	58.8%	34	55,304	Brakes — 52.9%
2021	40	74.4%	39	53,857	Brakes — 51.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1981 Triumph Dolomite, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

42.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

38.9%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

38.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

23.9%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

22.1%

↓ Decreases 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	21.0% (28 yrs)	51.3% (40 yrs)	+30.3%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	35.5% (28 yrs)	23.1% (40 yrs)	-12.4%	🟢 ↓

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 1981 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2021, covering 541 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.