2002 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 501 MOT tests, the 2002 Morgan 4/4 recorded a 90.8% pass rate. That is 18.2 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.8%) and lighting & signalling (4.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, service brake imbalance and steering rack — service brake performance alone was recorded 11 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 14.3% once past 60-90k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 8.6% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.8% | 24 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 20 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.2% | 11 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.6% | 8 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.6% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.0% | 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 | 11 |
| 2 | Service brake imbalance | 9 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 7 |
| 4 | Wipers | 6 |
| 5 | Pedal | 6 |
| 6 | Washers | 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 | 8.6% | 43 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.8% | 34 |
| 3 | Steering | 5.6% | 28 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 13 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.6% | 13 |
| 6 | Other defects | 2.4% | 12 |
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 | 306 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 150 | 12.7% |
| 60-90k | 35 | 14.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 99 | 10.1% |
| 2022 | 100 | 9.0% |
| 2023 | 104 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 96 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 102 | 9.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 4/4
On a 2002 4/4, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.2% 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 2002 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
90.8% of the 501 2002 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Morgan 4/4?
Brakes, recorded in 4.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (4.0%).
Does the 2002 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 14.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 501 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.