2004 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 264 MOT tests, the 2004 Morgan 4/4 recorded a 90.1% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 27.7% of the time, so this is 17.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.9%) and brakes (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, stop lamp and steering rack — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 8 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 7.5% in 2021 to 4.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.9% | 13 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 9 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.5% | 4 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 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 | 8 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 5 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 5 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 4 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
| 6 | Washers | 4 |
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 | 5.3% | 14 |
| 2 | Steering | 4.5% | 12 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 11 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 7 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Tyres | 1.9% | 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 | 166 | 7.8% |
| 30-60k | 66 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 53 | 7.5% |
| 2022 | 56 | 10.7% |
| 2023 | 51 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 55 | 16.4% |
| 2025 | 49 | 4.1% |
What to check before buying a 2004 4/4
On a 2004 4/4, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (2.6% 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 2004 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
90.1% of the 264 2004 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.9% of tests, followed by brakes (3.4%).
Does the 2004 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.8% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 264 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.