1997 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 371 MOT tests, the 1997 Morgan 4/4 recorded a 90.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 15.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 8.1% of all tests — 3.2 points clear of brakes, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, rear fog lamp and headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 10 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 12.3% in 2021 to 7.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.1% | 30 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.9% | 18 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 7 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.4% | 5 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.4% | 5 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.4% | 5 |
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 | 10 |
| 2 | Rear fog lamp | 9 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 8 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 8 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 7 |
| 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 | Tyres | 7.8% | 29 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.2% | 23 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.4% | 20 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 16 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.8% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.6% | 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 | 242 | 9.1% |
| 30-60k | 110 | 10.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 12.3% |
| 2022 | 75 | 6.7% |
| 2023 | 81 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 69 | 11.6% |
| 2025 | 65 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a 1997 4/4
On a 1997 4/4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 8.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (8.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (4.9% 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 (1.9% 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 1997 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
90.3% of the 371 1997 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.1% of tests, followed by brakes (4.9%).
Does the 1997 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.1% in the 0-30k band to 10.9% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 371 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.