2011 Morgan /4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2011 Morgan /4 passed 92.2% of its 386 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (23.2% fail rate), the 2011 /4 comes out 15.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.4%) and brakes (1.8%) 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 headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 10 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 9.9% in 2021 to 7.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.4% | 17 |
| 2 | Brakes | 1.8% | 7 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.6% | 6 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 5 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Other defects | 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 | Stop lamp | 9 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 7 |
| 4 | Headlamp | 5 |
| 5 | Washers | 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 | Suspension | 5.7% | 22 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.2% | 16 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.9% | 15 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.1% | 8 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.3% | 5 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 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 | 318 | 6.3% |
| 30-60k | 61 | 13.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 81 | 9.9% |
| 2022 | 77 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 75 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | 77 | 5.2% |
| 2025 | 76 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a 2011 /4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.8% 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 (1.6% 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 2011 Morgan /4s pass their MOT?
92.2% of the 386 2011 Morgan /4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Morgan /4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.4% of tests, followed by brakes (1.8%).
Does the 2011 /4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.3% in the 0-30k band to 13.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 386 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.