Reliant Robin (1980)

1,664 real MOT outcomes analysed • 7.5% first-time pass rate

1980 Reliant Robin

CarHunch analysed 1,664 real MOT records for the 1980 Reliant Robin. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 72.5% below UK average
7.5%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
48,279
typical mileage
24,687–73,924 middle half
1.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.14
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1980 Reliant Robin

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Reliant Robin

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 1,662 7.4% 0.14
Other (0%) 2 83.3% 0.5

Mileage Distribution

Most 1980 Reliant Robin vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

24,687
low mileage
48,279
typical
73,924
high mileage

Half of all 1980 Reliant Robin vehicles fall between 24,687 and 73,924 miles.

1980 Reliant Robin — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (34% of peak).

29 10 2014 2021

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.

MOT History Averages

1.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.14
Avg failures per vehicle
0.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1980 Reliant Robin

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 22.4%
    Oil leak
  • 16.1%
    Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush
  • 11.5%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 11.5%
    Service brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 10.5%
    Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel
  • 8.9%
    Nearside Stop lamp not working
  • 8.6%
    Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 8.2%
    Offside Stop lamp not working

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1980. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Reliant Robin?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Reliant Robin:

1981 1982 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000