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Triumph Herald 12/50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Triumph Herald 12/50 car check

Is the Triumph Herald 12/50 reliable? We analysed 1,658 real MOT tests across 206 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,658 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.8%
Typical Mileage
57,650mi
Annual Mileage
253mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
63yrs

The Triumph Herald 12/50 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Triumph Herald 12/50.

Specifications

Triumph Herald 12/50 — specs & performance

Verified from DVLA & DVSA records

A snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the Triumph Herald 12/50 — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.

1147cc
Engine

Engine & Performance

Engine size
1147cc
Fuel type
Petrol

Body & Dimensions

Body type
Car
Common colour
White
Wheel plan
2 Axle Rigid Body

Fuel Economy

Fuel-economy data not held for this model.

Tax & Emissions

Emission class
Not Available
Sources: DVLA vehicle register. Specifications reflect a representative Triumph Herald 12/50 record and may vary by trim, year and option pack.

Triumph Herald 12/50 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Triumph Herald 12/50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Browse all 206 Triumph Herald 12/50 registrations

Triumph Herald 12/50 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Triumph Herald 12/50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

75.6%
1967
74.2%
1966
72.2%
1965
77.6%
1964
78.3%
1963

Triumph Herald 12/50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Triumph Herald 12/50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 89
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 87
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 62
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 62
brake binding 51
parking brake recording little or no effort 48
Horn not working 29
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 27
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 27
wheel bearing has excessive play 26

Triumph Herald 12/50 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Triumph Herald 12/50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
64 mi/yr
Typical
253 mi/yr
Average
735 mi/yr
Heavy usage
659 mi/yr

Triumph Herald 12/50 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Triumph Herald 12/50 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1967 401 75.6% 27,096 52,581 73,413
1966 422 74.2% 42,418 55,508 76,000
1965 342 72.2% 38,019 60,541 75,672
1964 299 77.6% 42,851 51,807 71,193
1963 143 78.3% 36,375 64,387 72,196

How Long Does a Triumph Herald 12/50 Last?

Based on 206 Triumph Herald 12/50 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
49.1 years
Median
50.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
63 years

Triumph Herald 12/50 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Triumph Herald 12/50 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
57,650 mi
75th Percentile
74,543 mi
95th Percentile
90,746 mi
Max Recorded
647,501 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Triumph Herald 12/50

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1963

78.3% MOT pass rate from 143 tests

Year to avoid
1965

72.2% MOT pass rate from 342 tests

The best year to buy a used Triumph Herald 12/50 is 1963, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.3% across 143 tests. The 1965 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Triumph Herald 12/50 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Triumph Herald 12/50 THIS CAR 74.8% 1,658 57,650 mi 63 yrs
Triumph Bonneville 90.1% 235,206 7,823 mi 53 yrs
Triumph Tiger 90.6% 196,853 17,026 mi 32 yrs
Triumph Sprint 87.3% 158,613 21,242 mi 33 yrs
Suzuki SX4 S-cross Sz-t B-jet MHEV 91% 2,761 24,988 mi — yrs

Compared to the Triumph Bonneville (90.1% pass rate) and the Triumph Tiger (90.6% pass rate), the Triumph Herald 12/50 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Triumph Herald 12/50?

The Triumph Herald 12/50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.8% across 1,658 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Triumph Herald 12/50 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (89 recorded failures), suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (87), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (62). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Triumph Herald 12/50 owner drives around 253 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Triumph Herald 12/50 models stay on UK roads for around 63 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Triumph Herald 12/50 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Triumph Herald 12/50 reliable?
Based on 1,658 MOT tests, the Triumph Herald 12/50 has a 74.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Triumph Herald 12/50?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Triumph Herald 12/50 do per year?
The typical Triumph Herald 12/50 does around 253 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Triumph Herald 12/50 last?
Most Triumph Herald 12/50 models stay on UK roads for around 63 years based on our analysis of 206 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Triumph Herald 12/50?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Triumph Herald 12/50?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Triumph Herald 12/50 is 1963 with a 78.3% pass rate across 143 tests.