2008 Morgan /4 — MOT failures & pass rate
333 MOT tests on the 2008 Morgan /4 are in this dataset, and 92.5% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (26.3% fail rate), the 2008 /4 comes out 18.8pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.7%) and visibility (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are washers, headlamp aim and parking brake performance — washers alone was recorded 11 times.
The trend is worsening — 7.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 10.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.7% | 19 |
| 2 | Visibility | 3.9% | 13 |
| 3 | Brakes | 2.4% | 8 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.2% | 4 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.9% | 3 |
| 6 | Steering | 0.6% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washers | 11 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 10 |
| 3 | Parking brake performance | 3 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 3 |
| 5 | Wipers | 3 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 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 | Suspension | 5.7% | 19 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.5% | 15 |
| 3 | Brakes | 4.2% | 14 |
| 4 | Steering | 3.0% | 10 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 2.7% | 9 |
| 6 | Visibility | 2.4% | 8 |
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 | 223 | 6.7% |
| 30-60k | 98 | 9.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 69 | 7.2% |
| 2022 | 68 | 8.8% |
| 2023 | 68 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 60 | 5.0% |
| 2025 | 68 | 10.3% |
What to check before buying a 2008 /4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.7% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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 (2.4% 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.
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 2008 Morgan /4s pass their MOT?
92.5% of the 333 2008 Morgan /4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2008 Morgan /4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by visibility (3.9%).
Does the 2008 /4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.7% in the 0-30k band to 9.2% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 333 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.