2000 Morgan 8 — MOT failures & pass rate
359 MOT tests on the 2000 Morgan 8 are in this dataset, and 91.4% of them passed. That is 17.9 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.6%. Failures cluster in 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 catalyst emissions, headlamp aim and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 10 times.
The trend is worsening — 5.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 8.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 21 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.9% | 14 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 7 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.4% | 5 |
| 5 | Steering | 1.4% | 5 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 4 |
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 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 9 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 5 |
| 6 | Pedal | 5 |
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 | 7.5% | 27 |
| 2 | Steering | 5.3% | 19 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.3% | 19 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 16 |
| 5 | Tyres | 4.2% | 15 |
| 6 | Brakes | 3.1% | 11 |
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 | 194 | 10.3% |
| 30-60k | 123 | 7.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 77 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 72 | 11.1% |
| 2023 | 72 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 70 | 8.6% |
| 2025 | 68 | 8.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.9% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (1.9% 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 2000 Morgan 8s pass their MOT?
91.4% of the 359 2000 Morgan 8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 8.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Morgan 8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.9% of tests, followed by brakes (3.9%).
Does the 2000 8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.3% in the 0-30k band to 7.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 359 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.