1997 Morgan 8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 272 MOT tests, the 1997 Morgan 8 recorded a 94.8% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 19.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, steering and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.5%) and steering (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, track rod end and steering rack — headlamp aim alone was recorded 11 times.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 6.5% in 2021 to 4.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 15 |
| 2 | Steering | 2.6% | 7 |
| 3 | Suspension | 1.5% | 4 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.1% | 3 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 2 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.7% | 2 |
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 | 11 |
| 2 | Track rod end | 6 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 5 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 3 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 2 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 2 |
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 | 7.3% | 20 |
| 2 | Steering | 4.8% | 13 |
| 3 | Suspension | 4.8% | 13 |
| 4 | Brakes | 3.3% | 9 |
| 5 | Tyres | 2.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 2.6% | 7 |
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 | 139 | 3.6% |
| 30-60k | 99 | 4.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 62 | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 54 | 3.7% |
| 2023 | 57 | 5.3% |
| 2024 | 52 | 5.8% |
| 2025 | 47 | 4.3% |
What to check before buying a 1997 8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Steering (2.6% of tests): Play, leaks or worn track rod ends — affects handling and is a safety item. Typical repair: £150–£500.
- Suspension (1.5% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1997 Morgan 8s pass their MOT?
94.8% of the 272 1997 Morgan 8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 5.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Morgan 8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.5% of tests, followed by steering (2.6%).
Does the 1997 8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 3.6% in the 0-30k band to 4.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 272 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.