Morgan 8 MOT pass rate & common failures
4,133 MOT tests on the Morgan 8 (1980–2022) give it a 90.1% pass rate. That is 13.7 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.6%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.9%) and brakes (3.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, service brake performance and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 81 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 8 fails 8.9% of the time in the 0-30k band and 9.5% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.7 points.
How it compares
By model year
Every 8 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 56 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Brakes |
| 1983 | 65 | 90.8% | 9.2% | Brakes |
| 1984 | 114 | 86.0% | 14.0% | Brakes |
| 1985 | 94 | 89.4% | 10.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1986 | 72 | 87.5% | 12.5% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1987 | 77 | 85.7% | 14.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1988 | 110 | 81.8% | 18.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 162 | 88.3% | 11.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1990 | 125 | 90.4% | 9.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 137 | 87.6% | 12.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 170 | 85.3% | 14.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 147 | 89.8% | 10.2% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 152 | 91.5% | 8.6% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 152 | 90.1% | 9.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1996 | 183 | 89.6% | 10.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 272 | 94.8% | 5.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 267 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 256 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 359 | 91.4% | 8.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 314 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 205 | 89.3% | 10.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2003 | 138 | 84.8% | 15.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 133 | 91.0% | 9.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2012 | 34 | 91.2% | 8.8% | Brakes |
| 2013 | 58 | 94.8% | 5.2% | Brakes |
| 2015 | 36 | 91.7% | 8.3% | Brakes |
| 2016 | 34 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 73 | 95.9% | 4.1% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 246 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 161 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.8% | 116 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.9% | 77 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 62 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 42 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.6% | 26 |
| 8 | Other defects | 0.5% | 19 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 81 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 80 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 79 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 57 |
| 5 | Steering rack | 56 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 51 |
| 7 | Service brake imbalance | 49 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 47 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 324 |
| 2 | Suspension | 5.5% | 226 |
| 3 | Steering | 4.1% | 171 |
| 4 | Brakes | 4.0% | 165 |
| 5 | Tyres | 3.9% | 159 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.4% | 99 |
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 | 2,110 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,446 | 11.1% |
| 60-90k | 433 | 10.4% |
| 90-120k | 84 | 9.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 879 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 857 | 10.2% |
| 2023 | 852 | 10.6% |
| 2024 | 772 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 773 | 10.0% |
What to check before buying a Morgan 8
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.9% 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 (2.8% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Morgan 8?
90.1% of the 4,133 Morgan 8 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 9.9% fail rate, across model years 1980–2022.
What does the Morgan 8 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, then brakes (3.9%).
How much does mileage affect 8 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 9.5% for 90-120k, a 0.7-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,133 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.