MG Midget 1500 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 21 model years and 356 tests, the MG Midget 1500 passes its MOT 80.3% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (16.6% fail rate), the Midget 1500 comes out 3.0pp worse. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.0%) and brakes (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, service brake performance and stop lamp — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 28 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the Midget 1500 fails 17.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 15.6% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.6% in 2021 to 14.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Midget 1500 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 318 | 79.9% | 20.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 39 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 30 |
| 3 | Visibility | 6.5% | 23 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 23 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.2% | 22 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.6% | 13 |
| 7 | Steering | 2.8% | 10 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.6% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 28 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 21 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 19 |
| 4 | Washers | 18 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 11 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 11 |
| 7 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 8 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 22.8% | 81 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 55 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.0% | 25 |
| 4 | Other defects | 5.9% | 21 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.1% | 18 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 18 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 95 | 17.9% |
| 30-60k | 109 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 128 | 15.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 81 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 63 | 20.6% |
| 2024 | 55 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 47 | 14.9% |
What to check before buying a MG Midget 1500
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Visibility (6.5% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the MG Midget 1500?
80.3% of the 356 MG Midget 1500 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 19.7% fail rate, across model years 1980–2000.
What does the MG Midget 1500 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.0% of tests, then brakes (8.4%).
How much does mileage affect Midget 1500 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 15.6% for 60-90k, a 2.3-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 356 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.