2016 Morgan /4 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2016 Morgan /4 passed 89.4% of its 593 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (14.5% fail rate), the 2016 /4 comes out 3.9pp better. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (4.2%) and lighting & signalling (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and rbt (sp) — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 21 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 4.2% | 25 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.9% | 23 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.5% | 15 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.7% | 10 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.8% | 5 |
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 | 21 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 16 |
| 3 | Rbt (sp) | 9 |
| 4 | Individual direction indicators | 9 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 8 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 6 |
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 | 3.5% | 21 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 17 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.0% | 12 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.8% | 11 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.4% | 8 |
| 6 | Other defects | 1.4% | 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 | 564 | 11.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 126 | 14.3% |
| 2022 | 119 | 7.6% |
| 2023 | 116 | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 105 | 7.6% |
| 2025 | 127 | 14.2% |
What to check before buying a 2016 /4
On a 2016 /4, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (4.2% 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 (3.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.5% 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 2016 Morgan /4s pass their MOT?
89.4% of the 593 2016 Morgan /4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2016 Morgan /4?
Brakes, recorded in 4.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.9%).
Methodology & source. Based on 593 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.