Bentley Continental MOT Failures
An analysis of 73,742 real DVSA MOT tests on the Bentley Continental — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: Continental_R (1991–2003), Continental_GT_Mk1 (2003–2010), Continental_GT_Mk2 (2011–2018).
Where the Bentley Continental fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Bentley Continental is light unit fault — this model is 30 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 73,742 MOT tests, 0.41% of all Bentley Continental tests recorded this as a failure.
Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.
Other notable weak points include wheel bearings worn (24x the fleet average), anti-roll bar links worn (9.9x the fleet average), parking brake inefficient (38x the fleet average), and any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (8.8x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Bentley Continental'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: Lights & Electrics, Suspension, Brakes, Wheels, Exhaust & Emissions and others. If you're inspecting a Bentley Continental 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 Continental'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 Continental specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are power steering fault (51x the average) and parking brake inefficient (38x). light unit fault (30x) and wheel bearings worn (19x) 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 Continental specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are wheel bearings worn (24x the average) and light unit fault (19x). any fracture or welding defect on a wheel (8.8x) and anti-roll bar links worn (7.8x) also appear frequently.
The shift from power steering fault at lower mileages to wheel bearings worn 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 Continental specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.
Wheel bearing failure with excessive play Dangerous
Continental R models show significantly elevated wheel bearing failure rates compared to typical luxury vehicles. Affects Continental_R.
Parking brake control system failure Major
The Continental GT series suffers from electronic parking brake system failures at rates over 30 times the national average. Affects Continental_GT_Mk1, Continental_GT_Mk2; typical independent garage repair cost is £300–£600.
Suspension bushes and joints premature wear Major
Continental GT models exhibit suspension component wear at nearly 10 times the fleet average due to the combination of high kerb weight (2.4+ tonnes) and performance-oriented suspension tuning. Affects Continental_GT_Mk1, Continental_GT_Mk2; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£800.
Engine management light and emissions system faults Major
Continental GT models show engine management light activation at over The complex twin-turbo W12 and V8 engines use multiple lambda sensors, catalytic converters, and secondary air injection systems that are prone to failure. Affects Continental_GT_Mk1, Continental_GT_Mk2; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£800.
For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Bentley Continental common problems breakdown.
What to check before buying a Bentley Continental
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Bentley Continental:
Lights & Electrics — check for light unit fault. Suspension — check for wheel bearings worn, anti-roll bar links worn. Brakes — check for parking brake inefficient, abs fault.
Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about wheel bearing failure with excessive play and parking brake control system failure. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — 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.
Looking at a specific Bentley Continental?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Bentley Continental MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Bentley Continental?
Based on 73,742 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is light unit fault — at 30x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include wheel bearings worn and anti-roll bar links worn.
Is the Bentley Continental reliable based on MOT data?
The Bentley Continental has 10 MOT failure categories above the fleet average. Specialists also flag wheel bearing failure with excessive play as a concern. A pre-purchase inspection and service history check are recommended.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
The most common high-mileage failures include light unit fault, wheel bearings worn, anti-roll bar links worn.
How do I check a Bentley Continental's MOT history?
Enter the registration number into our free car check above. You'll see every MOT test result, advisories and failures, mileage readings, write-off status, and finance checks.
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.