1995 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
331 MOT tests on the 1995 Morgan 4/4 are in this dataset, and 87.9% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (24.2% fail rate), the 1995 4/4 comes out 12.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.5% of all tests — 4.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and washers — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 17 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1995 4/4 fails 12.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 0.6 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: emissions & environmental was flagged on 10.0% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.5% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.2% | 14 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.9% | 13 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.3% | 11 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.9% | 3 |
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 | 17 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 13 |
| 3 | Washers | 12 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 10 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 6 |
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 | 10.0% | 33 |
| 2 | Tyres | 8.2% | 27 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.8% | 26 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.5% | 15 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.9% | 13 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.0% | 10 |
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 | 158 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 127 | 11.8% |
| 60-90k | 35 | 11.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | 13.2% |
| 2022 | 69 | 17.4% |
| 2023 | 61 | 8.2% |
| 2024 | 63 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 62 | 14.5% |
What to check before buying a 1995 4/4
On a 1995 4/4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.2% 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 (3.9% 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 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
87.9% of the 331 1995 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 12.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.5% of tests, followed by brakes (4.2%).
Does the 1995 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 11.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 331 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.