2015 Morgan /4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 568 MOT tests, the 2015 Morgan /4 recorded a 94.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 16.3% of the time, so this is 10.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.2%) and brakes (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, stop lamp and individual direction indicators — service brake performance alone was recorded 13 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 11.2% in 2021 to 1.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.2% | 24 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.5% | 14 |
| 3 | Steering | 1.2% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 4 |
| 5 | Suspension | 0.4% | 2 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.4% | 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 | 13 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 10 |
| 3 | Individual direction indicators | 7 |
| 4 | Steering rack | 6 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 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 | 2.8% | 16 |
| 2 | Steering | 2.1% | 12 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.9% | 11 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.4% | 8 |
| 5 | Tyres | 1.2% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 5 |
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 | 517 | 5.6% |
| 30-60k | 50 | 10.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 125 | 11.2% |
| 2022 | 116 | 6.9% |
| 2023 | 114 | 6.1% |
| 2024 | 104 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | 109 | 1.8% |
What to check before buying a 2015 /4
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.5% 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.
- Steering (1.2% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
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 2015 Morgan /4s pass their MOT?
94.0% of the 568 2015 Morgan /4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 Morgan /4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by brakes (2.5%).
Does the 2015 /4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 568 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.