2006 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2006 Morgan 4/4 passed 91.9% of its 332 recorded MOT tests. That is 19.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.4%. Failures cluster in visibility, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — visibility (3.9%) and brakes (3.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, steering rack and headlamp aim — washers alone was recorded 15 times.
The trend is worsening — 1.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 11.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 3.9% | 13 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.6% | 12 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 8 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.8% | 6 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.9% | 3 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.3% | 1 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 15 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 6 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 5 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 4 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 3 |
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 | 3.9% | 13 |
| 2 | Suspension | 3.3% | 11 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.0% | 10 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.4% | 8 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.2% | 4 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.2% | 4 |
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 | 240 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 88 | 10.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 1.7% |
| 2022 | 68 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 64 | 9.4% |
| 2024 | 70 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 70 | 11.4% |
What to check before buying a 2006 4/4
On a 2006 4/4, visibility is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Visibility (3.9% 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.
- Brakes (3.6% 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 (2.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 2006 Morgan 4/4s pass their MOT?
91.9% of the 332 2006 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2006 Morgan 4/4?
Visibility, recorded in 3.9% of tests, followed by brakes (3.6%).
Does the 2006 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 10.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 332 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.