1996 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
357 MOT tests on the 1996 Morgan 4/4 are in this dataset, and 90.5% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.6% of the time, so this is 15.1pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests against 3.6% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rear fog lamp and headlamp — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 12 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 5.6% in the 0-30k band and 17.5% in the 60-90k band, a 11.9-point spread — more than double.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 8.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.3% in 2021 to 7.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.6% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 13 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 3.1% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 7 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 6 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.8% | 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 | 12 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 9 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 8 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 6 |
| 6 | Pedal | 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 | Suspension | 8.4% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 7.0% | 25 |
| 3 | Tyres | 4.8% | 17 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.5% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 11 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.7% | 6 |
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 | 160 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 140 | 10.7% |
| 60-90k | 40 | 17.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 11.3% |
| 2022 | 76 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 77 | 10.4% |
| 2024 | 67 | 7.5% |
| 2025 | 66 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a 1996 4/4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 7.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (7.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.6% 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 (3.1% 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 1996 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
90.5% of the 357 1996 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 1996 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 17.5% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 357 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.