1999 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Morgan 4/4 passed 91.5% of its 518 recorded MOT tests. That is 17.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.0%) and brakes (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and pedal — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 9 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 11.8% versus 6.8%.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.9% in 2021 to 8.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 26 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.5% | 13 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.9% | 10 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.7% | 9 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.5% | 8 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.5% | 8 |
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 | 9 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 8 |
| 3 | Pedal | 7 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 5 | Position lamp | 7 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 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 | Brakes | 7.0% | 36 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.6% | 34 |
| 3 | Steering | 3.9% | 20 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.9% | 15 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 12 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.1% | 11 |
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 | 252 | 6.8% |
| 30-60k | 183 | 8.2% |
| 60-90k | 51 | 11.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 9.9% |
| 2022 | 107 | 5.6% |
| 2023 | 107 | 8.4% |
| 2024 | 103 | 10.7% |
| 2025 | 100 | 8.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 4/4
On a 1999 4/4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (5.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.5% 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.
- Suspension (1.9% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1999 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
91.5% of the 518 1999 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.0% of tests, followed by brakes (2.5%).
Does the 1999 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.8% in the 0-30k band to 11.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 518 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.