Reliant Scimitar MOT Failures
An analysis of 566 real DVSA MOT tests on the Reliant Scimitar — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.
Where the Reliant Scimitar fails its MOT
The single biggest MOT failure point on the Reliant Scimitar is wheel bearings worn — this model is 49 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 566 MOT tests, 14.58% of all Reliant Scimitar tests recorded this as a failure.
Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.
Other notable weak points include exhaust system damage (28x the fleet average) and fluid leak (19x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Reliant Scimitar'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 3 categories: Suspension, Bodywork, Exhaust & Emissions. If you're inspecting a Reliant Scimitar 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 Reliant Scimitar'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 Reliant Scimitar specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are wheel bearings worn (49x the average) and exhaust system damage (28x). fluid leak (19x) and fluid leak 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.
The standout failure at this mileage is wheel bearings worn at 23x the fleet average.
What to check before buying a Reliant Scimitar
Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Reliant Scimitar:
Suspension — check for wheel bearings worn. Bodywork — check for exhaust system damage. Exhaust & Emissions — check for fluid leak.
Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.
Looking at a specific Reliant Scimitar?
Enter the reg to see its full MOT history, mileage records, write-off status, and finance checks.
Reliant Scimitar MOT FAQs
What are the most common MOT failures on a Reliant Scimitar?
Based on 566 DVSA MOT tests, the most common failure is wheel bearings worn — at 49x the national fleet average. Other frequent failures include exhaust system damage and fluid leak.
Is the Reliant Scimitar reliable based on MOT data?
The Reliant Scimitar has 3 categories where it fails more often than average. The main concern is wheel bearings worn. Always check a specific car's full history before buying.
What MOT failures should I expect at high mileage?
The most common high-mileage failures include wheel bearings worn, exhaust system damage, fluid leak.
How do I check a Reliant Scimitar'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.