1999 Morgan 8 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Morgan 8 passed 91.8% of its 256 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.0% of the time, so this is 17.8pp 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 (4.3%) 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 catalyst emissions, steering rack and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 10 times.
The trend is worsening — 3.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 6.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.3% | 11 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 10 |
| 3 | Steering | 3.1% | 8 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.7% | 7 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.2% | 3 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.2% | 3 |
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 | 10 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 7 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 6 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 4 |
| 5 | Washers | 3 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 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 | Suspension | 5.5% | 14 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 13 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 8 |
| 4 | Tyres | 2.7% | 7 |
| 5 | Brakes | 2.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Steering | 1.6% | 4 |
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 | 147 | 5.4% |
| 30-60k | 85 | 14.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 51 | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 51 | 11.8% |
| 2023 | 53 | 11.3% |
| 2024 | 52 | 7.7% |
| 2025 | 49 | 6.1% |
What to check before buying a 1999 8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 4.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (4.3% 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.
- Steering (3.1% 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 1999 Morgan 8s pass their MOT?
91.8% of the 256 1999 Morgan 8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Morgan 8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.3% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 1999 8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 5.4% in the 0-30k band to 14.1% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 256 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.