Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2001 Triumph Legend?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2001 Triumph Legend?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2001 Triumph Legend?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2001 Triumph Legend reliable?

Based on MOT data from 191 vehicles, the 2001 Triumph Legend has a first-time MOT pass rate of 89.1%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2001 Triumph Legend?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2001 Triumph Legend are: Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (72% of vehicles), Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (69.9% of vehicles), Drive chain slightly loose (31.1% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2001 Triumph Legend?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Triumph Legend (2001)

191 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.1% first-time pass rate

2001 Triumph Legend

CarHunch analysed 191 real MOT records for the 2001 Triumph Legend. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2001 Triumph Legend passes its MOT first time in 89.1% of cases, well above the UK average of 80%, which is a genuinely positive sign for reliability. Dangerous defects have appeared in 13.6% of vehicles tested, which is moderate rather than alarming, so structural or safety issues aren't a widespread concern with this model.

The median mileage of just 14,815 miles is unusually low for a 23-year-old car, suggesting most surviving examples have been carefully preserved rather than heavily driven. With an average of 1.64 failures and 5.1 advisories per test, these cars tend to need minor maintenance rather than major repairs—so if you're buying one, budget for routine work but don't expect catastrophic problems.

We have limited data for the 2001 Triumph Legend — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

89.1%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

13.6%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.64

Over 14.6 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

15k

Middle half: 10k–23k

For context

These stats describe 191 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.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 191 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 72%

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Rear Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Lighting 31.1%

Drive chain slightly loose · Front Wheel has a slightly distorted bead rim. · Headlamp aim too high · …

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Exhaust & emissions 31.1%

Exhaust noisy

Brake wear 17.6%

Front Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Rear Brake pad(s) close to minimum limit · Front Roller brake test indicates slight fluctuation of brake effort · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 9.8%

Drive chain worn but not considered excessive

Suspension & steering 7.3%

Front wheel bearings have slight free play

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 191 Triumph Legend cars.

Before you buy a 2001 Triumph Legend

Based on MOT data from 191 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 13.6% 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.
🔍 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 →
📄 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 Get 20% off via CarHunch

Mileage Distribution

Most 2001 Triumph Legend 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.

14,815

typical

9,610

low mileage

22,928

high mileage

Half of all 2001 Triumph Legend vehicles fall between 9,610 and 22,928 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 9,610 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 9,610–22,928 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2001 Triumph Legends sit.

⚠ Over 30,952 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2001 Triumph Legend — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 62% of 2001 Triumph Legends are still active.

80 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 62% of the peak remain.

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

14.6

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.64

Avg failures per vehicle

5.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Triumph Legend: All Legend years → Which year to buy? →

1998 1999 2000

Or browse all models: Triumph →

Compare with another model

See how the 2001 Triumph Legend stacks up against a rival.

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