1993 MG Rv8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 405 MOT tests, the 1993 MG Rv8 recorded a 93.6% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (23.3% fail rate), the 1993 Rv8 comes out 16.9pp better. Failures cluster in visibility, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, wipers and headlamp aim — washers alone was recorded 12 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1993 Rv8 fails 5.5% of the time in the 0-30k band and 4.7% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.8 points.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 18.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.7% | 15 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.5% | 14 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.0% | 8 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.7% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 5 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.0% | 4 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 12 |
| 2 | Wipers | 7 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 6 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 5 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 5 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 18.3% | 74 |
| 2 | Other defects | 7.2% | 29 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.7% | 23 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.2% | 21 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Tyres | 3.0% | 12 |
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 | 145 | 5.5% |
| 30-60k | 175 | 8.0% |
| 60-90k | 85 | 4.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 82 | 2.4% |
| 2023 | 79 | 6.3% |
| 2024 | 80 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 87 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Rv8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: visibility accounted for 3.7% of tests. Start there.
- Visibility (3.7% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.0% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1993 MG Rv8s pass their MOT?
93.6% of the 405 1993 MG Rv8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 MG Rv8?
Visibility, recorded in 3.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.5%).
Does the 1993 Rv8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.5% in the 0-30k band to 4.7% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 405 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.