At a Glance
The Triumph Spitfire has 42 identified problems that occur more often than the UK average, with Brake performance below minimum being the most reported. Electrical is the most common MOT failure category. The most serious issue flagged is Brake performance below minimum, rated as dangerous. Based on 54K MOT tests from DVSA data.
Problems are patterns in the DVSA data that occur significantly more often on this model than the UK average — confirmed at 99% statistical confidence. Read how we calculate MOT pass rates and problems →
Below: the full MOT-data picture for the Triumph Spitfire — MOT pass rate vs the UK average, common problems vs UK fleet patterns, the most likely MOT failures by frequency, fault occurrence by mileage band, and pass/fail trends. All numbers drawn from DVSA records.
Triumph Spitfire MOT Pass Rate
Across 54K MOT tests from DVSA data, the Triumph Spitfire (1962–1980) has a fail rate of 35.7%.
All-time UK average fail rate: 34.9%
Common Triumph Spitfire Problems
Owner-submitted reports plus patterns we've identified across 559 million UK MOT tests. Each MOT-derived item below — whether tagged as a Problem, Wear & Tear or Consumable — shows up noticeably more often on this generation than across the UK fleet, which is why it's here. Owner reports are pinned to the top by default; use the sort and filter pills below to view a specific tier or change the order.
Brake performance below minimum
7,010
occurrences
Suspension component mounting corroded
3,259
occurrences
Exhaust emissions above threshold (non-catalyst)
3,132
occurrences
Indicator fault
3,003
occurrences
Wiper blades deteriorated
2,591
occurrences
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Triumph Spitfire owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
Tell Us About Your Problem
Help other Triumph Spitfire owners — report a problem and we'll add it to the database
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Problems by mileage
Common problems, MOT failures and advisories on the Triumph Spitfire, grouped by the mileage they typically appear at.
579 distinct problems · 98,077 total occurrences in current filter
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Advisory items are MOT tester observations. Frequency can be influenced by driving style and usage patterns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Triumph Spitfire problems?
Based on DVSA MOT data for the Triumph Spitfire Spitfire (1962–1980), we have identified 42 common problems. The most frequently reported is "Brake performance below minimum". Electrical is the most common MOT failure category.
How reliable is the Triumph Spitfire?
This generation has 54K MOT tests on record with a 35.7% fail rate. A fault is flagged as a "Common Problem" only when it occurs significantly more often on this model than the UK average, confirmed at 99% statistical confidence.
What commonly fails the MOT on a Triumph Spitfire?
There are 162 distinct MOT failure types recorded for the Spitfire (1962–1980), grouped by the mileage these failures typically occur. See the Common MOT Failures section on this page.
Can I report a problem with my Triumph Spitfire?
Yes — use the "Tell Us About Your Problem" form on this page. Your report helps other Triumph Spitfire owners spot problems early. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the public database.
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