Morgan /4 MOT pass rate & common failures
7,607 MOT tests on the Morgan /4 (1984–2022) give it a 91.2% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 20.4% of the time, so this is 11.6pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.7%) and brakes (3.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and catalyst emissions — service brake performance alone was recorded 158 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the /4 fails 8.0% of the time in the 0-30k band and 11.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 3.9 points.
How it compares
By model year
Every /4 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 40 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 35 | 82.9% | 17.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 53 | 84.9% | 15.1% | Brakes |
| 1990 | 100 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 137 | 86.9% | 13.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 148 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Brakes |
| 1993 | 211 | 86.3% | 13.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 184 | 88.6% | 11.4% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 162 | 86.4% | 13.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 144 | 94.4% | 5.6% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 235 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 189 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 150 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 84 | 84.5% | 15.5% | Visibility |
| 2005 | 224 | 91.1% | 8.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 211 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 374 | 93.8% | 6.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2008 | 333 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2009 | 362 | 92.0% | 8.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 333 | 96.1% | 3.9% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 386 | 92.2% | 7.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 249 | 89.6% | 10.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2013 | 360 | 90.6% | 9.4% | Brakes |
| 2014 | 371 | 93.3% | 6.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2015 | 568 | 94.0% | 6.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2016 | 593 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Brakes |
| 2017 | 369 | 93.2% | 6.8% | Steering |
| 2018 | 377 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Steering |
| 2019 | 428 | 92.5% | 7.5% | Steering |
| 2020 | 116 | 90.5% | 9.5% | Steering |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.7% | 359 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.5% | 263 |
| 3 | Visibility | 1.8% | 137 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 134 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.6% | 122 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 64 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.5% | 35 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.4% | 34 |
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 | 158 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 119 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 117 |
| 4 | Washers | 113 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 113 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 91 |
| 7 | Service brake imbalance | 87 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 68 |
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 | 5.5% | 421 |
| 2 | Brakes | 4.5% | 343 |
| 3 | Tyres | 3.4% | 261 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 3.0% | 229 |
| 5 | Steering | 2.1% | 162 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.6% | 125 |
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 | 5,682 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 1,524 | 10.5% |
| 60-90k | 332 | 13.0% |
| 90-120k | 42 | 11.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,463 | 9.4% |
| 2022 | 1,551 | 8.9% |
| 2023 | 1,573 | 9.3% |
| 2024 | 1,467 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 1,553 | 8.3% |
What to check before buying a Morgan /4
- Lighting & signalling (4.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.5% 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.
- Visibility (1.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Morgan /4?
91.2% of the 7,607 Morgan /4 MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.8% fail rate, across model years 1984–2022.
What does the Morgan /4 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.7% of tests, then brakes (3.5%).
How much does mileage affect /4 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 11.9% for 90-120k, a 3.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 7,607 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.