1995 MG Rv8 — MOT failures & pass rate
820 MOT tests on the 1995 MG Rv8 are in this dataset, and 91.6% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (24.1% fail rate), the 1995 Rv8 comes out 15.7pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.6%) and brakes (3.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 20 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 7.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 16.9% once past 60-90k — 2.4× the risk.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 12.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 13.6% in 2021 to 6.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 46 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.3% | 27 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 17 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.1% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 7 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 20 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 15 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 13 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 12 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 10 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 9 |
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 | 12.8% | 105 |
| 2 | Other defects | 6.5% | 53 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 46 |
| 4 | Tyres | 4.3% | 35 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.3% | 35 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.8% | 23 |
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 | 454 | 7.0% |
| 30-60k | 282 | 8.2% |
| 60-90k | 77 | 16.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 44 | 13.6% |
| 2022 | 208 | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 186 | 8.1% |
| 2024 | 186 | 9.1% |
| 2025 | 196 | 6.1% |
What to check before buying a 1995 Rv8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.3% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1995 MG Rv8s pass their MOT?
91.6% of the 820 1995 MG Rv8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 MG Rv8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.3%).
Does the 1995 Rv8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.0% in the 0-30k band to 16.9% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 820 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.