2003 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Morgan 4/4 passed 91.4% of its 396 recorded MOT tests. That is 19.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.6%) and brakes (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, washers and steering rack — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 10 times.
The trend is worsening — 7.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 9.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.6% | 22 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.0% | 12 |
| 3 | Steering | 2.5% | 10 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.5% | 10 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 9 |
| 6 | Tyres | 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 | 10 |
| 2 | Washers | 8 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 7 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 6 |
| 5 | Wipers | 5 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 5 |
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 | 4.5% | 18 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.5% | 18 |
| 3 | Steering | 3.8% | 15 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 12 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.8% | 11 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.3% | 5 |
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 | 7.9% |
| 30-60k | 138 | 9.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 7.0% |
| 2022 | 82 | 8.5% |
| 2023 | 81 | 9.9% |
| 2024 | 70 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 77 | 9.1% |
What to check before buying a 2003 4/4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.6% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.0% 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.
- Steering (2.5% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2003 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 396 2003 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.6% of tests, followed by brakes (3.0%).
Does the 2003 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.9% in the 0-30k band to 9.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 396 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.