Triumph reliability and common MOT problems by model
Triumph shows a 5.6% combined MOT failure rate across 83,093 tests in MOTIntel data. Street has one of the lower high-confidence rates at 3.7%. Sprint deserves extra checking at 8.2%.
Statistics are built from DVSA MOT tests carried out in calendar year 2023, plus official recall records and MOT fault wording data. Report index generated 2026-05-09.
Triumph combined failure rate: 5.6% — all-model average is 18.7%. Ranked #1 of 48 makes by failure rate (1 = lowest). Raw rates reflect each make's fleet age mix — newer fleets naturally fail less.
Street (3.7%), Bonneville (4.2%), Tiger (5.3%), Speed Triple (6.6%), Sprint (8.2%)
Sprint (8.2%), Speed Triple (6.6%), Tiger (5.3%), Bonneville (4.2%), Street (3.7%)
Most reliable Triumph models in MOT data
| # | Model | MOT failure rate | Tests | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triumph Street | 3.7% | 5,173 tests | 4,792 vehicles |
| 2 | Triumph Bonneville | 4.2% | 18,868 tests | 17,669 vehicles |
| 3 | Triumph Tiger | 5.3% | 17,848 tests | 16,684 vehicles |
| 4 | Triumph Speed Triple | 6.6% | 5,597 tests | 5,088 vehicles |
| 5 | Triumph Sprint | 8.2% | 6,445 tests | 5,854 vehicles |
Triumph models with the highest MOT failure rates
| # | Model | MOT failure rate | Tests | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triumph Sprint | 8.2% | 6,445 tests | 5,854 vehicles |
| 2 | Triumph Speed Triple | 6.6% | 5,597 tests | 5,088 vehicles |
| 3 | Triumph Tiger | 5.3% | 17,848 tests | 16,684 vehicles |
| 4 | Triumph Bonneville | 4.2% | 18,868 tests | 17,669 vehicles |
| 5 | Triumph Street | 3.7% | 5,173 tests | 4,792 vehicles |
Common Triumph MOT problem areas
| # | Problem area | MOT notes | Models affected | What to check | High-rate examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 2,610 MOT notes | 5 models | Check for recent discs, pads, pipes, handbrake work, and any repeated brake imbalance advisories. | Triumph Sprint, Triumph Speed Triple, Triumph Tiger |
| 2 | Lights and electrical | 563 MOT notes | 5 models | Test every exterior light, warning lamp, horn, washer, and basic electrical function before buying. | Triumph Speed Triple, Triumph Sprint, Triumph Street |
| 3 | Corrosion and structure | 224 MOT notes | 5 models | Inspect sills, subframes, suspension mounts, brake pipes, and previous welding or rust repairs. | Triumph Sprint, Triumph Bonneville, Triumph Tiger |
| 4 | Emissions, engine, and exhaust | 209 MOT notes | 5 models | Check cold starts, exhaust smoke, warning lights, service history, and recent emissions repairs. | Triumph Sprint, Triumph Tiger, Triumph Bonneville |
| 5 | Tyres and wheels | 111 MOT notes | 5 models | Look for matching tyres, legal tread, sidewall damage, wheel damage, and uneven wear. | Triumph Sprint, Triumph Tiger, Triumph Bonneville |
| 6 | Suspension and steering | 86 MOT notes | 5 models | Listen for knocks, check uneven tyre wear, and ask whether worn joints or bushes have been replaced. | Triumph Sprint, Triumph Speed Triple, Triumph Street |
All Triumph model reports
| Model | MOT tests | Vehicles | Failure rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonneville | 18,868 | 17,669 | 4.2% |
| Tiger | 17,848 | 16,684 | 5.3% |
| Sprint | 6,445 | 5,854 | 8.2% |
| Speed Triple | 5,597 | 5,088 | 6.6% |
| Street | 5,173 | 4,792 | 3.7% |
| Daytona limited data | 4,612 | 4,241 | 7.8% |
| S limited data | 3,682 | 3,419 | 4.5% |
| Thunderbird limited data | 3,218 | 2,999 | 5.0% |
| Speed limited data | 3,044 | 2,862 | 4.2% |
| Thruxton limited data | 2,842 | 2,674 | 4.1% |
| Street Triple limited data | 2,805 | 2,616 | 6.3% |
| Street Triple R limited data | 1,706 | 1,564 | 6.5% |
| Trophy limited data | 1,688 | 1,520 | 8.3% |
| Unclassified limited data | 1,169 | 1,075 | 6.9% |
| Stag limited data | 1,126 | 960 | 14.4% |
| Scrambler limited data | 1,091 | 1,016 | 3.6% |
| Tr6 limited data | 1,090 | 962 | 12.0% |
| Bonneville T 100 865 limited data | 1,089 | 1,009 | 5.2% |
Models with limited data (fewer than 20,000 tests or 10,000 vehicles) have full reports but are not indexed in search engines until the evidence threshold is met.