Tvr 290s MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 128 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 25.8%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Tvr 290s MOT Reliability Overview
The Tvr 290s is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 128 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% and a failure rate of 25.8%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Tvr 290s earns a "Very Good" reliability rating. The average Tvr 290s presents for MOT with approximately 57,656 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1991 models achieve the highest pass rate at 85.0%, while 1990 models have the lowest at 60.8%. This 24.2 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Tvr 290s is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 18.8% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 13.3%. Steering rounds out the top three at 13.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 39.9% | 51 |
| 2 | Steering | 13.3% | 17 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 11 |
| 4 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 8.6% | 11 |
| 5 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 4.7% | 6 |
| 6 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 4.7% | 6 |
| 7 | Visibility | 3.9% | 5 |
| 8 | Suspension | 3.9% | 5 |
| 9 | Body, Structure And General Items | 3.1% | 4 |
| 10 | Driver's View Of The Road | 3.1% | 4 |
| 11 | Non-component Advisories | 1.6% | 2 |
| 12 | Identification Of The Vehicle | 1.6% | 2 |
| 13 | Registration Plates And Vin | 0.8% | 1 |
| 14 | Tyres | 0.8% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 57,656 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 6.91 | 39.9% | 51 |
| Steering | 2.30 | 13.3% | 17 |
| Brakes | 1.49 | 8.6% | 11 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.49 | 8.6% | 11 |
| Body & Structure | 1.35 | 7.8% | 10 |
| Visibility | 1.22 | 7.0% | 9 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.81 | 4.7% | 6 |
| Suspension | 0.68 | 3.9% | 5 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.27 | 1.6% | 2 |
| Identification of the vehicle | 0.27 | 1.6% | 2 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.14 | 0.8% | 1 |
| Tyres | 0.14 | 0.8% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Tvr 290s has 57,656 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Tvr 290s has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.47% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Tvr 290s MOT Data
The Tvr 290s is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 128 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 3 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% and a failure rate of 25.8%, which is above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Tvr 290s owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 290s is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 18.8% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 18.8% of MOT failures on the Tvr 290s. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.3% of failures
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment issues account for 13.3% of MOT failures on the Tvr 290s. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Steering — 13.3% of failures
Steering issues account for 13.3% of MOT failures on the Tvr 290s. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Tvr 290s?
Based on 128 MOT tests in our database, the Tvr 290s has an overall pass rate of 74.2% (25.8% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Tvr 290s?
The top 3 reasons a Tvr 290s fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (18.8%), 2. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (13.3%), 3. Steering (13.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Tvr 290s reliable?
With a 25.8% MOT failure rate, the 290s is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Tvr 290s?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (18.8%); Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment (13.3%); Steering (13.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.