1998 Morgan 8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 267 MOT tests, the 1998 Morgan 8 recorded a 91.0% pass rate. That is 16.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.5%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.8%) and lighting & signalling (3.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, position lamp and washers — service brake performance alone was recorded 6 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.8% | 10 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.4% | 9 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.6% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Tyres | 0.8% | 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 | 6 |
| 2 | Position lamp | 5 |
| 3 | Washers | 4 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 4 |
| 5 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
| 6 | Pedal | 3 |
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 | 7.1% | 19 |
| 2 | Suspension | 4.9% | 13 |
| 3 | Other defects | 2.6% | 7 |
| 4 | Steering | 1.9% | 5 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 4 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 3 |
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 | 137 | 7.3% |
| 30-60k | 106 | 12.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 56 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 55 | 10.9% |
| 2023 | 55 | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 49 | 8.2% |
| 2025 | 52 | 7.7% |
What to check before buying a 1998 8
On a 1998 8, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (3.8% 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 (3.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.6% 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 1998 Morgan 8s pass their MOT?
91.0% of the 267 1998 Morgan 8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 9.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Morgan 8?
Brakes, recorded in 3.8% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.4%).
Does the 1998 8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.3% in the 0-30k band to 12.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 267 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.