2002 Morgan Aero 8 — MOT failures & pass rate
259 MOT tests on the 2002 Morgan Aero 8 are in this dataset, and 89.2% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 27.4% of the time, so this is 16.6pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, visibility and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (5.4%) and visibility (4.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wipers, washers and ball joint — wipers alone was recorded 11 times.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 15.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 10.0% in 2021 to 7.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 5.4% | 14 |
| 2 | Visibility | 4.6% | 12 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.1% | 8 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 2.3% | 6 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.3% | 6 |
| 6 | Other defects | 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 | Wipers | 11 |
| 2 | Washers | 6 |
| 3 | Ball joint | 6 |
| 4 | Registration plates | 5 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 5 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 4 |
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 | 15.4% | 40 |
| 2 | Other defects | 13.9% | 36 |
| 3 | Steering | 8.5% | 22 |
| 4 | Tyres | 7.3% | 19 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 13 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.9% | 5 |
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 | 122 | 7.4% |
| 30-60k | 104 | 15.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 50 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 59 | 18.6% |
| 2023 | 51 | 9.8% |
| 2024 | 48 | 6.3% |
| 2025 | 51 | 7.8% |
What to check before buying a 2002 Aero 8
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 5.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (5.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (4.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Brakes (3.1% 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.
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 2002 Morgan Aero 8s pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 259 2002 Morgan Aero 8 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 Morgan Aero 8?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 5.4% of tests, followed by visibility (4.6%).
Does the 2002 Aero 8 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.4% in the 0-30k band to 15.4% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 259 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.