Triumph
1,716 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Scramblers pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 11.4 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
88.9%
Pass-after-fix
6.6%
Fail
4.3%
Avg miles
7,998
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Petrol cars first registered from January 2006 meet Euro 4 — compliant in London ULEZ, Birmingham CAZ, Bristol CAZ, and Glasgow LEZ.
Performance by cohort
2 year bands · 1,631 tests
Pass rate climbs 2.2 points across the cohorts — newer Scrambler examples clear the test more reliably than the early cars.
Pass
88.7%
Fail
4.4%
PRS
6.8%
Avg mileage at test
7,980 mi
Pass
90.9%
Fail
3.2%
PRS
4.8%
Avg mileage at test
5,652 mi
Cohort = vehicle's first-registration year band. Same model, different generations of build.
The picture
Across 1,091 MOT tests, the Scrambler returns 90.6% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a non-conforming number plate. A missing rear reflector and brake pads worn below 1.0 mm round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 7,079, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Filter failures:
Hide categories
Tick a category to hide it from rankings sitewide. Saved in this browser only.
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
10 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear
9 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm
8 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
A shock absorber not functioning or leaking severely
5 occurrences · 0.3% of tests
Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
4 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Reflector colour or position not in accordance with the requirements
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
3 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 3 failures
£215–£475
If every one of this Scrambler's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
Try the calculator
Build your own retest budget.
Year-band analysis
First-time MOT pass rate split by registration band. A 2.2-point gap between bands is modest — the year you buy Triumph Scrambler makes a small but real difference to MOT outcomes.
Best band to buy
90.9%
2021+ registration
the 2021-on band climbs to 90.9% — a 2.2-point improvement. Failures here are mostly wear items: does not conform to the specified requirements, missing in the case of a single… — the structural issues that drag down older examples don't appear in the top-10 for this band. Post-2020 examples are early in their MOT life and generally show the cleanest records.
Band to be cautious about
88.7%
2018–2020 registration
On the 2018–2020 band, the data shows a 88.7% pass rate against a fleet average of 90.9% on the newer band. The main culprits logged at test: less than 1.0 mm thick, missing, and does not conform to the specified requirements. Average mileage on test for this band is 7,980 miles — high-mileage wear items are a recurring theme.
Best band to buy: 2021+ (90.9% first-time pass). Worst band to avoid: 2018-2020 (88.7% pass). That's a 2.2-point spread across 1,445 older tests and 186 newer ones — year of build makes a material difference on this model.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
MOT-spec replacement number plate
Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Brake pad measurement gauge
Testers fail pads under 1.5mm. A wear gauge tells you if you've got two months left or two weeks.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Recall history
The Scrambler has 1 official UK vehicle recall covering defect details, remedies, and affected build dates.
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Scrambler and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.
