Morgan 4/4 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 40 model years and 10,362 tests, the Morgan 4/4 passes its MOT 89.8% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 23.4% of the time, so this is 13.1pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.4%) and brakes (4.8%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, service brake imbalance and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 310 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 4/4 fails 8.7% of the time in the 0-30k band and 12.5% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.8 points.
How it compares
By model year
Every 4/4 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 69 | 84.1% | 15.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1981 | 83 | 83.1% | 16.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1982 | 110 | 85.5% | 14.5% | Brakes |
| 1983 | 204 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Brakes |
| 1984 | 216 | 82.9% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1985 | 263 | 84.4% | 15.6% | Brakes |
| 1986 | 190 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1987 | 204 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 231 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Brakes |
| 1989 | 238 | 87.8% | 12.2% | Brakes |
| 1990 | 183 | 89.6% | 10.4% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1991 | 241 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Brakes |
| 1992 | 258 | 92.3% | 7.8% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 155 | 89.7% | 10.3% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 314 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1995 | 331 | 87.9% | 12.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 357 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 371 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 391 | 89.5% | 10.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 518 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 726 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 534 | 89.9% | 10.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 501 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Brakes |
| 2003 | 396 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 264 | 90.1% | 9.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 176 | 90.3% | 9.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 332 | 91.9% | 8.1% | Visibility |
| 2007 | 206 | 94.2% | 5.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 268 | 95.5% | 4.5% | Visibility |
| 2009 | 235 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Brakes |
| 2010 | 218 | 91.3% | 8.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 224 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 165 | 94.5% | 5.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 155 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2014 | 174 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 209 | 90.0% | 10.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 222 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 216 | 94.9% | 5.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 193 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Steering |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.4% | 661 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.8% | 499 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.3% | 242 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 230 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.5% | 153 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 126 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.8% | 79 |
| 8 | Tyres | 0.4% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 310 |
| 2 | Service brake imbalance | 203 |
| 3 | Washers | 190 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 183 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 158 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 158 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 158 |
| 8 | Stop lamp | 150 |
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 | 7.2% | 747 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.9% | 711 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 430 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.6% | 377 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.6% | 372 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.5% | 261 |
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 | 5,995 | 8.7% |
| 30-60k | 3,102 | 11.3% |
| 60-90k | 970 | 14.4% |
| 90-120k | 150 | 12.0% |
| 150k+ | 32 | 12.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,219 | 11.0% |
| 2022 | 2,181 | 11.2% |
| 2023 | 2,063 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 1,935 | 9.5% |
| 2025 | 1,964 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a Morgan 4/4
- Lighting & signalling (6.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.8% 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 (2.3% 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 Morgan 4/4?
89.8% of the 10,362 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 10.2% fail rate, across model years 1980–2019.
What does the Morgan 4/4 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.4% of tests, then brakes (4.8%).
How much does mileage affect 4/4 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 12.5% for 150k+, a 3.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 10,362 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.