Reliant Robin (1982)
1982 Reliant Robin
CarHunch analysed 146 real MOT records for the 1982 Reliant Robin. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1982 Reliant Robin has an 11.8% first-time pass rate—catastrophically below the UK average of 80%—making it a reliability nightmare for MOT purposes. No vehicles recorded dangerous defects, which is the only bright spot, but the fundamental message is clear: this car fails MOT inspections nine times out of ten.
The median mileage of 47,208 is reasonable for a 42-year-old survivor, yet the extremely low pass rate isn't explained by age or wear—it reflects deep structural and mechanical problems inherent to the design. At just 0.18 failures and 0.2 advisories per vehicle on average, the numbers suggest most cars are being kept off the road entirely rather than repeatedly patched up, so treat any 1982 Robin you find as a museum piece, not a working vehicle.
What to check before buying a 1982 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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Mileage Distribution
Most 1982 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.
Half of all 1982 Reliant Robin vehicles fall between 39,408 and 59,303 miles.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1982 Reliant Robin
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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22.4%
Oil leak
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16.1%
Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush
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11.5%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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11.5%
Service brake: efficiency below requirements
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10.5%
Steering system has slight free play detected at steering wheel
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8.9%
Nearside Stop lamp not working
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8.6%
Brake pipe slightly corroded
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8.2%
Offside Stop lamp not working
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1982. 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.