Bentley Continental Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Bentley Continental fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 33,304 MOT tests across 24 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: luxury | Fuel: Petrol
94%
Bentley Continental pass rate
94%
Bentley average
82%
All-model average
The Bentley Continental has an average MOT pass rate of 94%, which is equal to the Bentley average and 12 points above the average across all models in our data. Newer Bentley Continentals pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 4 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Bentley Continental Fails Its MOT On
Of the 1,051 MOT tests on the Bentley Continental that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
27%Cars and vans the same age: 46% (the Continental fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
26%Cars and vans the same age: 14% (the Continental fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
Tyres
25%Cars and vans the same age: 17% (the Continental fails on this more often) · Typical repair £50-£300
Brakes
21%Cars and vans the same age: 26% (the Continental fails on this less often) · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
12%Cars and vans the same age: 39% (the Continental fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Engine warning lamp (petrol) on or not working (19% of failed tests, exhaust, emissions and leaks)
- Tyre has a cut deep enough to reach the ply or cords (7.8% of failed tests, tyres)
- Suspension arm pin or bush excessively worn (6.5% of failed tests, suspension)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Bentley Continental Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Continental year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Bentley Continental Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Petrol | 6.0L | 99% | 1% | - |
| 2017 | Petrol | 6.0L | 100% | 0% | - |
| 2016 | Petrol | 4.0L | 97% | 3% | 86% (+11) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 4.0L | 97% | 3% | 84% (+13) |
| 2014 | Petrol | 4.0L | 97% | 2% | 82% (+15) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 4.0L | 96% | 4% | 80% (+16) |
| 2012 | Petrol | 6.0L | 95% | 5% | 79% (+16) |
| 2011 | Petrol | 6.0L | 95% | 4% | 77% (+18) |
| 2010 | Petrol | 6.0L | 90% | 9% | 75% (+15) |
| 2009 | Petrol | 6.0L | 95% | 5% | 75% (+20) |
| 2008 | Petrol | 6.0L | 93% | 6% | 74% (+19) |
| 2007 | Petrol | 6.0L | 94% | 6% | 73% (+21) |
| 2006 | Petrol | 6.0L | 92% | 7% | 73% (+19) |
| 2005 | Petrol | 6.0L | 94% | 6% | 73% (+21) |
| 2004 | Petrol | 6.0L | 92% | 7% | 72% (+20) |
| 1999 | Petrol | 6.8L | 94% | 6% | - |
| 1998 | Petrol | 6.8L | 98% | 2% | - |
| 1997 | Petrol | 6.8L | 96% | 4% | - |
| 1996 | Petrol | 6.8L | 82% | 16% | - |
| 1995 | Petrol | 6.8L | 95% | 5% | - |
| 1994 | Petrol | 6.8L | 85% | 15% | - |
| 1993 | Petrol | 6.8L | 93% | 7% | - |
| 1992 | Petrol | 6.8L | 86% | 8% | - |
| 1990 | Petrol | 6.8L | 90% | 10% | - |
Bentley Continental Running Costs
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Bentley Continental FAQ
What are the most common Bentley Continental problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Bentley Continental that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (27% of the 1,051 failed tests), exhaust, emissions and leaks (26%) and tyres (25%). The single most common fault was "Engine warning lamp (petrol) on or not working" (19%). Across 33,304 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 94% ended in a pass.
Is the Bentley Continental reliable?
The Bentley Continental has an average MOT pass rate of 94%, from 33,304 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed 18 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which Bentley Continental years should I avoid?
No Bentley Continental year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2007 (94% of 3,741 tests passed, against 73% for all 2007 cars), the 2005 (94% of 3,059 tests passed, against 73% for all 2005 cars) and the 2004 (92% of 2,890 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Bentley Continental faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Bentley Continental typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Bentley Models
Common problems pages for other Bentley models