Morgan +Four MOT pass rate & common failures
1,143 MOT tests on the Morgan +Four (1990–2023) give it a 92.0% pass rate. That is 7.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 15.4%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.6%) and lighting & signalling (2.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and parking brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 29 times.
How it compares
By model year
Every +Four model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 51 | 96.1% | 3.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 101 | 95.0% | 5.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2011 | 198 | 92.4% | 7.6% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2012 | 93 | 88.2% | 11.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2020 | 184 | 90.2% | 9.8% | Brakes |
| 2021 | 281 | 91.5% | 8.5% | Brakes |
| 2022 | 156 | 93.0% | 7.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.6% | 41 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 29 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 27 |
| 4 | Visibility | 0.7% | 8 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.6% | 7 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.5% | 6 |
| 7 | Tyres | 0.3% | 3 |
| 8 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.2% | 2 |
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 | 29 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 28 |
| 3 | Parking brake performance | 12 |
| 4 | Wipers | 10 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 9 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 7 |
| 7 | Stop lamp | 7 |
| 8 | Steering rack | 6 |
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 | 5.1% | 58 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.7% | 31 |
| 3 | Tyres | 2.5% | 29 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 10 |
| 5 | Steering | 0.7% | 8 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.4% | 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 | 1,024 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 109 | 5.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 6.4% |
| 2022 | 108 | 7.4% |
| 2023 | 165 | 9.7% |
| 2024 | 300 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 460 | 7.6% |
What to check before buying a Morgan +Four
- Brakes (3.6% 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 (2.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (2.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Morgan +Four?
92.0% of the 1,143 Morgan +Four MOT tests in this dataset passed, an 8.0% fail rate, across model years 1990–2023.
What does the Morgan +Four most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 3.6% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.5%).
Methodology & source. Based on 1,143 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.