2001 Morgan 8 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 314 MOT tests, the 2001 Morgan 8 recorded a 93.0% pass rate. That is 20.0 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.0%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and steering.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (4.1%) and brakes (2.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are position lamp, steering rack and washers — position lamp alone was recorded 8 times.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 4.1% | 13 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.9% | 9 |
| 3 | Steering | 2.5% | 8 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.6% | 5 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 4 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.0% | 3 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position lamp | 8 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 8 |
| 3 | Washers | 5 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 5 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 4 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 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 | Tyres | 8.0% | 25 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 18 |
| 3 | Steering | 5.1% | 16 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.8% | 15 |
| 5 | Brakes | 4.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 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 | 160 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 113 | 5.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 58 | 5.2% |
| 2022 | 64 | 7.8% |
| 2023 | 67 | 9.0% |
| 2024 | 60 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 65 | 4.6% |
What to check before buying a 2001 8
On a 2001 8, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 4.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (4.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (2.9% 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 (2.5% 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 2001 Morgan 8s pass their MOT?
93.0% of the 314 2001 Morgan 8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Morgan 8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 4.1% of tests, followed by brakes (2.9%).
Does the 2001 8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 5.3% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 314 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.