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Common Bentley Continental Problems, Faults, and Repair Costs

Every known Bentley Continental MOT issue, ranked by how common it is and what it costs to fix. Based on 33,304 real MOT tests across 24 model years.

Segment: luxury | Fuel: Petrol

94%

Bentley Continental pass rate

94%

Bentley average

82%

National average

The Bentley Continental has an average MOT pass rate of 94%, which is equal to the Bentley average and 12 points above the national average. Newer BENTLEY CONTINENTALs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 4 percentage points.

Check Your Bentley Continental's MOT History

Enter your reg plate to see the specific issues found on your car, plus a health score and running cost estimate.

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Most Common Bentley Continental MOT Issues

Ranked by how likely they are to affect your Bentley Continental, with typical repair costs

Brakes

High likelihood

£80 - £450

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Brake discs worn, brake pads thin, handbrake adjustment needed

Failure points:

Brake disc excessively worn, brake pipe corroded, brake efficiency below minimum

Suspension

High likelihood

£150 - £600

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Suspension arm bush worn, shock absorber misting, spring corroded

Failure points:

Coil spring broken, ball joint excessive play, shock absorber leaking

Lights

High likelihood

£15 - £200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Headlamp aim slightly out, lens deteriorated

Failure points:

Headlamp not working, brake light not functioning, indicator failure

Tyres

High likelihood

£50 - £300

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Tyre approaching legal limit, slight damage to sidewall

Failure points:

Tyre below minimum tread depth, tyre has a cut exposing ply

Exhaust & Emissions

High likelihood

£80 - £800

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Exhaust mounting corroded, slight exhaust leak

Failure points:

Exhaust emissions exceed limits, catalytic converter efficiency low, DPF warning

Steering

High likelihood

£100 - £500

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Track rod end has slight play, steering rack boot deteriorated

Failure points:

Steering rack leaking, track rod ball joint worn beyond limits

Body & Structure

High likelihood

£200 - £1200

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Surface corrosion on subframe, slight body panel damage

Failure points:

Structural corrosion, body mounting corroded through, chassis weakness

Windscreen & Wipers

Lower likelihood

£10 - £350

Typical repair cost

Common advisories:

Minor windscreen chip, wiper blade deteriorated

Failure points:

Windscreen crack in swept area, wiper does not clear windscreen

Is your specific car affected?

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Bentley Continental Reliability by Year

MOT pass rate for each model year, based on real test data

1990
90%
1992
86%
1993
93%
1994
85%
1995
95%
1996
82%
Worst year
1997
96%
1998
98%
1999
94%
2004
92%
2005
94%
2006
92%
2007
94%
2008
93%
2009
95%
2010
90%
2011
95%
2012
95%
2013
96%
2014
97%
2015
97%
2016
97%
2017
100%
Best year
2018
99%
YearFuelEnginePass RateFail Rate
2018Petrol6.0L99%1%
2017Petrol6.0L100%0%
2016Petrol4.0L97%3%
2015Petrol4.0L97%3%
2014Petrol4.0L97%2%
2013Petrol4.0L96%4%
2012Petrol6.0L95%5%
2011Petrol6.0L95%4%
2010Petrol6.0L90%9%
2009Petrol6.0L95%5%
2008Petrol6.0L93%6%
2007Petrol6.0L94%6%
2006Petrol6.0L92%7%
2005Petrol6.0L94%6%
2004Petrol6.0L92%7%
1999Petrol6.8L94%6%
1998Petrol6.8L98%2%
1997Petrol6.8L96%4%
1996Petrol6.8L82%16%
1995Petrol6.8L95%5%
1994Petrol6.8L85%15%
1993Petrol6.8L93%7%
1992Petrol6.8L86%8%
1990Petrol6.8L90%10%

Most Reliable Year

2017

100% pass rate from 326 tests

View 2017 Bentley Continental details

Least Reliable Year

1996

82% pass rate from 113 tests

View 1996 Bentley Continental details

Bentley Continental Running Costs

Want to know the full annual running costs for the Bentley Continental? Including fuel, tax, insurance, and predicted repairs based on MOT history.

View Bentley Continental Running Costs

Bentley Continental FAQ

What are the most common Bentley Continental problems?

The most common Bentley Continental MOT problems are brakes, suspension, lights, tyres, exhaust & emissions, steering, body & structure issues. These are the areas most likely to cause advisories or failures during an MOT test, based on 33,304 real tests.

Is the Bentley Continental reliable?

The Bentley Continental has an average MOT pass rate of 94%, which is 12 points above the national average of 82%. This is considered good reliability.

Which year Bentley Continental is most reliable?

The 2017 Bentley Continental is the most reliable year with a 100% MOT pass rate. Avoid the 1996 model year if reliability is your priority, as it has the lowest pass rate at 82%.

How much does it cost to fix common Bentley Continental faults?

Repair costs vary by issue. Brake work on a Bentley Continental typically costs £80-£450, suspension repairs cost £150-£600, and exhaust/emissions fixes cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.

Check a Specific Bentley Continental

Enter any reg plate to see the exact MOT history, defects found, health score, and running cost estimate for that specific car.

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Free instant check using official DVSA and DVLA data

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