Used car guide

1993 Talbot Express: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1993 Talbot Expresss, from 936 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

936MOT tests in 2025
54%pass first time (all 1993 cars: 69%)
2,400typical miles a year
4.1×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1993 Talbot Expresss than on all cars registered in 1993.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints4.1× usual
    Talbot Express
    20.7% All 1993 cars
    5.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.2%, against 1.9% of all 1993 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.

  • Wheel bearings2.9× usual
    Talbot Express
    21.4% All 1993 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 1.2% of all 1993 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£300 (one bearing) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for a hum or growl that changes as you steer at speed.

  • Headlights3.4× usual
    Talbot Express
    13% All 1993 cars
    3.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.5%, against 2.8% of all 1993 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Exhaust system2× usual
    Talbot Express
    18.7% All 1993 cars
    9.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.6%, against 2.6% of all 1993 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£500 (pipe or section) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for blowing or rattling from underneath at idle, and look for black soot around joints.

  • Braking performance2.2× usual
    Talbot Express
    17% All 1993 cars
    7.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.7%, against 3.9% of all 1993 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

By area

The share of 1993 Talbot Express MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    50% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Brakes
    45% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    35% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    24% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    22% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    21% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

Looking at a Talbot Express?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
1994670Lights and electrics 48%
1992915Lights and electrics 49%
1991827Lights and electrics 48%
1990724Lights and electrics 50%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1993 Talbot Expresss registered in 1993. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score