Reliant Rialto (1986)
1986 Reliant Rialto
CarHunch analysed 481 real MOT records for the 1986 Reliant Rialto.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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Moderate sample. 481 vehicles on record. Figures are indicative — the specific vehicle's history matters more than these averages.
The 1986 Reliant Rialto has a first-time pass rate of 73.5%, which is 6.5 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, signalling that these cars are noticeably more troublesome than most vehicles of similar age. While dangerous defects aren't rampant, 18.1% of cars examined have recorded at least one, which is a legitimate concern for a vehicle from this era.
These Rialtos average just under 56,000 miles, which is reasonable for their age, but owners are dealing with nearly two failures and four advisories per test on average — suggesting persistent issues rather than isolated problems. If you're considering one, get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the exhaust, lighting, and suspension, as these categories typically dominate the failure records for cars this old and this troublesome.
The 1986 Reliant Rialto has a below-average first-time pass rate (73.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 481 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 481 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1986.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 481 Reliant Rialto cars.
Before you buy a 1986 Reliant Rialto
Based on MOT data from 481 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
18.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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Colour Breakdown
Based on 4,240 Reliant Rialto vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 1986 Reliant Rialto vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 1986 Reliant Rialto vehicles fall between 39,863 and 73,840 miles.
1986 Reliant Rialto — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 24% of 1986 Reliant Rialtos are still active.
Numbers are declining — 25 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (24% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 1986 Reliant Rialto stacks up against a rival.