Bentley Arnage MOT Failures

An analysis of 9,272 real DVSA MOT tests on the Bentley Arnage — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: Mark IV (1998–2009), Final Series (2005–2009).

Where the Bentley Arnage fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Bentley Arnage is power steering fault — this model is 33 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 9,272 MOT tests, 1.92% of all Bentley Arnage tests recorded this as a failure.

Steering faults include worn track rod ends, power steering leaks, and rack wear. These are safety-critical — any play in the steering should be investigated immediately.

Other notable weak points include abs fault (24x the fleet average), light unit fault (9.8x the fleet average), anti-roll bar links worn (52x the fleet average), and suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (14x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Bentley Arnage's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 6 categories: Steering, Suspension, Lights & Electrics, Wipers & Windscreen, Exhaust & Emissions and others. If you're inspecting a Bentley Arnage before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Bentley Arnage's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

Under 60,000 miles

At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.

For the Bentley Arnage specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are power steering fault (33x the average) and anti-roll bar links worn (31x). abs fault (24x) and parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement (13x) also appear frequently.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

For the Bentley Arnage specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are fluid leak (80x the average) and power steering fault (17x). suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated (14x) and abs fault (13x) also appear frequently.

The shift from power steering fault at lower mileages to fluid leak at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Bentley Arnage specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Brake pipe corrosion Dangerous

Brake pipe corrosion occurs at 2.9 times the national fleet average, with the trend worsening over recent MOT test cycles. Affects Mark IV, Final Series; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£600.

Spring component failure (6.75 V8) Dangerous

Coil spring fractures occur at 5.2 times the fleet average on 6.75-litre V8 variants, with failures documented as early as 20,000 miles. Affects Mark IV, Final Series; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£800.

Suspension joint dust cover deterioration Major

Ball joint and suspension component dust covers fail at exceptionally high rates on the Arnage, with MOT data showing failure rates up to 45.6 times the national fleet average. Affects Mark IV, Final Series; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.

Shock absorber bush wear Major

Shock absorber mounting bushes deteriorate at 13.4 times the national fleet average, particularly affecting higher-mileage Arnage models. Affects Mark IV, Final Series; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£600.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Bentley Arnage common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Bentley Arnage

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Bentley Arnage:

Steering — check for power steering fault. Suspension — check for abs fault, anti-roll bar links worn, suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated. Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about brake pipe corrosion and spring component failure. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £300. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.