1998 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 391 MOT tests analysed for the 1998 Morgan 4/4, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 89.5% was above the average for cars of a similar age (76.2%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.2% | 28 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.4% | 25 |
| 3 | Visibility | 3.3% | 13 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.0% | 4 |
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 | 16 |
| 2 | Pedal | 10 |
| 3 | Rear fog lamp | 10 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 9 |
| 5 | Wipers | 9 |
| 6 | Washers | 8 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.7% | 34 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.7% | 30 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 24 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.1% | 12 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.1% | 12 |
| 6 | Steering | 2.1% | 8 |
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 | 205 | 10.2% |
| 30-60k | 118 | 8.5% |
| 60-90k | 45 | 13.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 8.6% |
| 2022 | 76 | 10.5% |
| 2023 | 72 | 6.9% |
| 2024 | 81 | 13.6% |
| 2025 | 81 | 12.3% |
What to check before buying a 1998 4/4
Before buying a 1998 Morgan 4/4, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.2% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (6.4% 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 (3.3% 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
How many 1998 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
89.5% of the 391 1998 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.2% of tests, followed by brakes (6.4%).
Does the 1998 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 391 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.