Used car guide · 1990–1994

Talbot Express common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Talbot Express, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 4,072 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

4,072MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

19941993199219911990

What usually goes wrong with a Talbot Express?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Talbot Express in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Talbot Express MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 4.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

    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 bearings

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994.

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

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

  • Headlights

    up to 3.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

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

  • Brake discs

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

    Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

  • Exhaust system

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1990, 1993 and 1994.

    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.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 1991, 1992 and 1994.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

Talbot Express MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
199453%69% -16670
199354%69% -15936
199255%69% -14915
199156%71% -15827
199056%73% -17724

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Talbot Express

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the Talbot Express as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wheel bearings? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Talbot Express as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Talbot Express as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Talbot Express?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score