At a Glance
Triumph has 75 identified common problems across 25 models, with the Spitfire being the most affected model and electrical the most common problem category. Based on 344K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we identify common car problems →
Below: per-model breakdowns of Triumph common problems, MOT failure rates by category, pass-rate data, and repair patterns drawn from 344K DVSA MOT tests across 20 years. Click any model to see generation-specific issues, mileage-banded fault patterns, and the most common MOT failures recorded by UK testers.
MOT Tests & Failures by Model
Top Triumph models by MOT tests, failures, and identified problems from DVSA data
Hover over each bar for a full breakdown. Tap any bar to view that model's problems.
Showing total MOT tests, failures, and known problems per make. Hover over each bar for a full breakdown.
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Triumph Common Problems by Model
Select a model to see problems by generation
Showing top 9 by MOT test volume — search to find any of 25 Triumph models.
Stag
Most common: Suspension
Spitfire
Most common: Brakes
Tr6
Most common: Suspension
Herald
Most common: Brakes
Tr7
Most common: Suspension
Vitesse
Most common: Brakes
Dolomite
Most common: Suspension
Gt6
Most common: Brakes
Tr4
Most common: Suspension
Most Common Triumph MOT Failures
Every reason Triumph vehicles fail their MOT, ranked by frequency. Select an individual year to see only that year’s failures, or stay on ‘All time’ for the combined picture across our 20 years of DVSA data. Scroll inside the table for the full list.
| # | Failure | % of failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake performance below minimum | 7.61% |
| 2 | Number plate lamp not working | 6.25% |
| 3 | Stop lamp not working | 5.11% |
| 4 | Suspension joint or bush worn | 4.71% |
| 5 | Windscreen washer not working | 4.64% |
| 6 | Exhaust system fault | 4.45% |
| 7 | Front lamp not working | 3.20% |
| 8 | Wiper blades deteriorated | 3.16% |
| 9 | Tyre condition | 3.13% |
| 10 | Brake hydraulic component worn | 3.08% |
| 11 | Headlamp aim defect | 3.05% |
| 12 | Tyre tread depth below limit | 2.59% |
| 13 | Body corrosion or damage | 2.45% |
| 14 | Suspension mounting corroded | 2.40% |
| 15 | Indicator fault | 2.31% |
| 16 | Front suspension fault | 2.21% |
| 17 | Chassis condition | 2.16% |
| 18 | Front suspension joint worn | 2.13% |
| 19 | Track rod end worn | 1.95% |
| 20 | Shock absorber worn or leaking | 1.68% |
| 21 | Rear lamp not working | 1.59% |
| 22 | Parking brake condition | 1.51% |
| 23 | Parking brake performance below minimum | 1.43% |
| 24 | Steering rack fault | 1.35% |
| 25 | Horn not working | 1.29% |
| 26 | Position lamp not working | 1.24% |
| 27 | Rear suspension fault | 1.10% |
| 28 | Seat belt condition | 0.87% |
| 29 | Headlamp fault | 0.86% |
| 30 | Steering column fault | 0.86% |
| 31 | Steering free play excessive | 0.82% |
| 32 | Ball joint dust cover split | 0.67% |
| 33 | Brake pads or linings worn | 0.66% |
| 34 | Brake disc or drum worn | 0.63% |
| 35 | Driveshaft fault | 0.62% |
| 36 | Steering coupling worn | 0.60% |
| 37 | Subframe mounting corroded | 0.59% |
| 38 | Brake pedal fault | 0.59% |
| 39 | Battery loose or leaking | 0.58% |
| 40 | Wheel bearing worn | 0.55% |
| 41 | Fog lamp not working | 0.50% |
| 42 | Fuel pipe corroded or damaged | 0.50% |
| 43 | Exhaust emissions above threshold (non-catalyst) | 0.47% |
| 44 | Brake fluid leak | 0.45% |
| 45 | Spring mounting corroded | 0.45% |
| 46 | Steering operation fault | 0.44% |
| 47 | Fuel cap damaged or missing | 0.42% |
| 48 | Brake pedal movement restricted | 0.35% |
| 49 | Electrical switch fault | 0.35% |
| 50 | Tyre size or type not matched | 0.35% |
| 51 | Handbrake cable fault | 0.34% |
| 52 | Steering wheel damaged or insecure | 0.32% |
| 53 | Mirror damaged or missing | 0.31% |
| 54 | Steering lock fault | 0.30% |
| 55 | Suspension linkage fault | 0.30% |
| 56 | Electrical wiring fault | 0.30% |
| 57 | Spark ignition emissions above threshold | 0.29% |
| 58 | King pin or swivel pin worn | 0.29% |
| 59 | Vehicle structure corrosion | 0.27% |
| 60 | Steering arm worn | 0.27% |
| 61 | Brake wheel cylinder fault | 0.26% |
| 62 | Brake caliper fault | 0.25% |
| 63 | Fuel hose damaged or leaking | 0.25% |
| 64 | Rigid brake pipe corroded or damaged | 0.24% |
| 65 | Suspension retaining or locking device fault | 0.24% |
| 66 | Suspension arm worn or corroded | 0.23% |
| 67 | Steering shaft fault | 0.22% |
| 68 | Brake lever fault | 0.22% |
| 69 | Windscreen damage affecting view | 0.21% |
| 70 | Flexible brake hose damaged | 0.20% |
| 71 | MacPherson strut worn | 0.18% |
| 72 | Dashboard warning lamp fault | 0.17% |
| 73 | Coil spring broken or corroded | 0.16% |
| 74 | Body security fault | 0.13% |
| 75 | Brake master cylinder or servo mounting fault | 0.13% |
| 76 | Driver seat fault | 0.13% |
| 77 | Brake clevis joint worn | 0.12% |
| 78 | Drag link end worn | 0.12% |
| 79 | Engine oil leak | 0.11% |
| 80 | Fuel tank corroded or leaking | 0.10% |
| 81 | Subframe corrosion or damage | 0.10% |
| 82 | Rear fog lamp not working | 0.10% |
| 83 | Speedometer fault | 0.09% |
| 84 | Boot lid damaged or insecure | 0.09% |
| 85 | Bonnet catch or hinge fault | 0.09% |
| 86 | Brake air or vacuum system fault | 0.08% |
| 87 | Leaf spring broken or corroded | 0.07% |
| 88 | Front passenger door fault | 0.07% |
| 89 | Passenger seat fault | 0.07% |
| 90 | Tyre valve stem damaged | 0.07% |
| 91 | Rear reflector damaged or missing | 0.07% |
| 92 | Universal joint worn | 0.06% |
| 93 | Driver door fault | 0.06% |
| 94 | Hydraulic brake cylinder fault | 0.06% |
| 95 | Handbrake mechanism or mounting fault | 0.06% |
| 96 | Handbrake lever fault | 0.06% |
| 97 | Power steering pipe or hose leaking | 0.06% |
| 98 | Trailing arm worn or corroded | 0.06% |
| 99 | Anti-roll bar worn or corroded | 0.05% |
| 100 | Tie bar or rod worn or corroded | 0.05% |
| 101 | Power steering pump fault | 0.05% |
| 102 | Brake cable, rod, lever or linkage fault | 0.05% |
| 103 | Indicator warning light fault | 0.05% |
| 104 | Bonded suspension condition | 0.04% |
| 105 | Steering box fault | 0.04% |
| 106 | Brake back plate corroded or damaged | 0.04% |
| 107 | Engine mounting worn or broken | 0.03% |
| 108 | Vehicle floor corroded | 0.03% |
| 109 | Dip switch fault | 0.03% |
| 110 | Transmission oil leak | 0.03% |
| 111 | Brake fluid level low or contaminated | 0.02% |
| 112 | Exhaust leak | 0.02% |
| 113 | Brake linkage mounting fault | 0.02% |
| 114 | Leaf spring eye worn or broken | 0.02% |
| 115 | Towbar fault | 0.02% |
| 116 | Power steering ram fault | 0.02% |
| 117 | Steering intermediate drop arm worn | 0.02% |
| 118 | Brake master cylinder fault | 0.02% |
| 119 | Radius arm worn or corroded | 0.02% |
| 120 | Semaphore indicator fault | 0.02% |
| 121 | Anchor bracket corroded | 0.02% |
| 122 | Brake fluid warning light on | 0.02% |
| 123 | Brake relay lever fault | 0.02% |
| 124 | Rear fog lamp warning light fault | 0.02% |
| 125 | Steering lock stop fault | 0.02% |
| 126 | Wheel hub fault | 0.02% |
| 127 | Brake fluid reservoir fault | 0.01% |
| 128 | Propshaft fault | 0.01% |
| 129 | Securing bolts missing or insecure | 0.01% |
| 130 | Steering drive system fault | 0.01% |
| 131 | Spare wheel fault | 0.01% |
| 132 | Brake stationary pin worn | 0.01% |
| 133 | Brake valve fault | 0.01% |
| 134 | Catalytic converter efficiency low | 0.01% |
| 135 | Leaf spring shackle bracket corroded | 0.01% |
| 136 | Spring saddle corroded | 0.01% |
| 137 | Stub axle worn | 0.01% |
| 138 | CV joint worn | 0.01% |
| 139 | Hydraulic fluid leak | 0.01% |
| 140 | Body strengthening plate corroded | <0.01% |
| 141 | Brake pedal linkage fault | <0.01% |
| 142 | Brake servo fault | <0.01% |
| 143 | Suspension unit fault | <0.01% |
| 144 | Halfshaft fault | <0.01% |
| 145 | Bumper damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 146 | Seat belt anchorage fault | <0.01% |
| 147 | Axle beam corroded or cracked | <0.01% |
| 148 | Suspension coupling worn | <0.01% |
| 149 | Compression ignition emissions above threshold | <0.01% |
| 150 | Main beam warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 151 | Brake pressure or vacuum buildup insufficient | <0.01% |
| 152 | Brake slack adjuster fault | <0.01% |
| 153 | Load sensing valve fault | <0.01% |
| 154 | Suspension linkage attachment bracket or mounting corroded | <0.01% |
| 155 | Suspension rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 156 | Tailgate damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 157 | Torsion bar worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 158 | Additional braking device fault | <0.01% |
| 159 | Hand-operated brake valve condition | <0.01% |
| 160 | Mirror or camera fault | <0.01% |
| 161 | Torque or reaction arm worn | <0.01% |
| 162 | ABS fault | <0.01% |
| 163 | Electric power steering fault | <0.01% |
| 164 | Handbrake fails on gradient | <0.01% |
| 165 | Headlamp levelling device fault | <0.01% |
| 166 | Leaf spring slipper worn | <0.01% |
| 167 | Access panel damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 168 | Axle corroded or damaged | <0.01% |
| 169 | Hazard warning light fault | <0.01% |
| 170 | Panhard rod worn or corroded | <0.01% |
| 171 | Seat belt load limiter fault | <0.01% |
| 172 | Air brake cylinder or actuator fault | <0.01% |
| 173 | Air suspension levelling valve fault | <0.01% |
| 174 | Electronic stability control fault | <0.01% |
| 175 | Full power hydraulic brake fault | <0.01% |
| 176 | Loading door damaged or insecure | <0.01% |
| 177 | Reversing lamp not working | <0.01% |
| 178 | Seat belt or padding damaged | <0.01% |
| 179 | Seat belt pre-tensioner fault | <0.01% |
| 180 | Window damaged or won't operate | <0.01% |
Showing all 180 reasons — scroll inside the table for the full list.
Triumph MOT Failures by Category
Total MOT failure occurrences for Triumph, grouped by category. Same data as the failures table above — just sliced by category instead of fault title. Hover a slice for the top failures in each category.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Triumph problems?
Based on analysis of 344K Triumph MOT tests from DVSA data, Triumph has 75 identified common problems across 25 models. The Triumph Spitfire has the most recorded problems. Electrical issues are the most common category.
Which Triumph model has the most problems?
By total identified common problems, the Triumph Spitfire has the highest count with 43 problems. This is partly because it is one of the more popular Triumph models on UK roads. See the models grid for a full breakdown.
How is this data calculated?
We analyse anonymised DVSA MOT test records under the Open Government Licence. An issue is classified as a "Common Problem" when it occurs significantly more often on a specific model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read the full methodology page for details.
Can I report a problem with my Triumph?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Triumph owners spot problems early. We review all submissions before they are published.
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