Luxury car · 1996–2021 cars

Bentley Continental reliability

The Bentley Continental fails 7.4% of first MOT tests, 70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 66,145 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

Better than averageReliability score 99/100#1 of 14 luxury cars

Checking a Bentley Continental before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 7.4%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 70% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 66,145; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 4,000; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

MOT fail rate by age

How the Bentley Continental ages

Each point is the share of Bentley Continentals of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Bentley ContinentalAll cars

Bentley Continental first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Bentley Continental	All cars
3	4.2%	12.3%
4	4.3%	14.1%
5	3.9%	16.4%
6	4.6%	19.1%
7	4.2%	22.1%
8	5.3%	25.5%
9	5.3%	28.8%
10	5.2%	31.8%
11	7.5%	34.6%
12	6.6%	37.3%
13	9.5%	39.5%
14	11.1%	41.1%
15	10.3%	42.3%
16	10.2%	42.9%
17	10.8%	43.4%
18	11.2%	43.5%
19	10.1%	43.4%
20	9.5%	42.8%
25	8%	35.8%

By year

The best and worst Bentley Continental years

2015 cars come out best and 2010 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Bentley Continental MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	635	6.8%	20% fewer fails	12,840
2020 Continental	2,397	2.3%	76% fewer fails	13,691
2019 Continental	4,235	4.2%	61% fewer fails	16,993
2018 Continental	3,585	3.9%	67% fewer fails	18,608
2017 Continental	3,603	4.4%	68% fewer fails	24,079
2016 Continental	4,543	5%	68% fewer fails	26,952
2015 Continental	4,246	4.2%	77% fewer fails	30,646
2014 Continental	4,107	4.8%	76% fewer fails	34,506
2013 Continental	3,734	5.9%	74% fewer fails	39,295
2012 Continental	3,507	7.6%	70% fewer fails	42,993
2011 Continental	2,740	6.9%	73% fewer fails	40,461
2010 Continental	2,284	12.1%	58% fewer fails	43,899
2009 Continental	1,806	8.4%	73% fewer fails	47,419
2008 Continental	3,607	9.5%	71% fewer fails	53,497
2007 Continental	5,906	9.1%	73% fewer fails	53,168
2006 Continental	4,817	11.2%	69% fewer fails	60,118
2005 Continental	5,029	10.3%	72% fewer fails	65,666
2004 Continental	4,581	12.7%	67% fewer fails	69,510
1998	268	4.9%	84% fewer fails	46,644

Common problems

What fails most on a Bentley Continental

Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Tyres2.3%50% below avg
Lights and electrics1.9%80% below avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.7%32% below avg
Brakes1.2%78% below avg
Suspension0.7%91% below avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors0.7%85% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.5%70% above avg
Seat belts and airbags0.3%66% below avg
Body, chassis and structure0.3%89% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 0.99% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.52% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
3
Tyre bulge from structural failure 0.36% of tests
A bulge means the tyre's structure has failed and it could burst suddenly, so it must be replaced at once.
4
Tyre ply or cords exposed 0.34% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
5
Number plate does not meet standards 0.32% of tests
The plate does not meet legal specifications, so it must be replaced with a compliant one before the car is driven.
6
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 0.28% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
7
Headlamp aim set too high 0.26% of tests
Headlamps aimed too high can dazzle other drivers, and adjusting them is usually a quick job.
8
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.23% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Bentley Continental's MOT certificate most often.

Tyre worn close to legal limit3.11%
Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.62%
Brake disc pitted or scored2.5%
Brake pads wearing thin1.59%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear1.27%
Tyre has a shallow cut0.95%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Bentley Continental

1
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
2
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
3
Tyre bulge from structural failure
A bulge means the tyre's structure has failed and it could burst suddenly, so it must be replaced at once.
4
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Bentley Continental covers about 4,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol99.9%
Other0%
Diesel0%
LPG0%

Most common colours

Black, Blue, Grey, Silver, White

Average engine size: 5.5 litres.

Compare

How the Bentley Continental compares with its rivals

Bentley Continental against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Bentley Continental	7.4%	70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Audi A8	13.2%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Porsche Panamera	10%	58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 7 Series	15.9%	47% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	15.8%	46% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Jaguar XJ	22.6%	35% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
BMW 8 Series	10.9%	28% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age

Every luxury car ranked in the luxury car reliability index, or all Bentley models.

Questions

Bentley Continental questions, answered

Is the Bentley Continental reliable?

On MOT results, the Bentley Continental is better than average: it fails 7.4% of first MOT tests, 70% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 1 of 14 luxury car models in our index.

What fails most on a Bentley Continental MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Bentley Continental are engine warning light inoperative or lit (0.99% of tests), tyre cut reaching ply or cords (0.52% of tests), tyre bulge from structural failure (0.36% of tests). By area, tyres fails 2.3% of its tests.

Which Bentley Continental year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2015 cars do best (77% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2010 cars do worst (58% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Bentley Continental do a year?

A typical Bentley Continental covers about 4,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Bentley Continental before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

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