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Talbot Express (1989)

1,267 real MOT outcomes analysed • 52.5% first-time pass rate

1989 Talbot Express

CarHunch analysed 1,267 real MOT records for the 1989 Talbot Express. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 27.5% below UK average
52.5%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
81,037
typical mileage
65,501–102,981 middle half
42.8%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
5.61
avg MOT failures per car
over 15.9 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 17.9 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

61.8%
Petrol
600 vehicles
43.9%
Diesel
659 vehicles

What to check before buying a 1989 Talbot Express

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.
  • ⚠️ 42.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 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 Talbot Express

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
Diesel (52%) 659 43.9% 4.43
Petrol (47%) 600 61.8% 6.88
LPG (1%) 7 64.1% 8.29
Other (0%) 1 50% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Talbot Express 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.

65,501
low mileage
81,037
typical
102,981
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Talbot Express vehicles fall between 65,501 and 102,981 miles.

1989 Talbot Express — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 329 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (45% of peak).

739 329 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

15.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
5.61
Avg failures per vehicle
28.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Talbot Express

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

  • 62.7%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 57.7%
    Offside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
  • 57.3%
    Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
  • 49.8%
    Oil leak
  • 46.8%
    Offside Front wheel bearing has slight play
  • 40.8%
    Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play
  • 39.6%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 38.2%
    Nearside Rear Wheel bearing has slight play

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Talbot Express?

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

UK

Other model years — Talbot Express:

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994