2013 Morgan /4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 360 MOT tests, the 2013 Morgan /4 recorded a 90.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 20.0% of the time, so this is 10.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.7%) and lighting & signalling (3.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, washers and wipers — service brake performance alone was recorded 16 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 14.3% in 2021 to 7.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.7% | 17 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.1% | 11 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.5% | 9 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.7% | 6 |
| 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 | Service brake performance | 16 |
| 2 | Washers | 6 |
| 3 | Wipers | 5 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 5 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 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 | 6.4% | 23 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 14 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.5% | 9 |
| 4 | Other defects | 0.8% | 3 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 0.8% | 3 |
| 6 | Visibility | 0.6% | 2 |
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 | 329 | 9.7% |
| 30-60k | 31 | 6.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 76 | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 68 | 7.3% |
| 2024 | 70 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 69 | 7.2% |
What to check before buying a 2013 /4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 4.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (4.7% 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 (3.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.5% 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
How many 2013 Morgan /4s pass their MOT?
90.6% of the 360 2013 Morgan /4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2013 Morgan /4?
Brakes, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.1%).
Does the 2013 /4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 9.7% in the 0-30k band to 6.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 360 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.