2001 Morgan 4/4 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 534 MOT tests analysed for the 2001 Morgan 4/4, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and visibility. Its pass rate of 89.9% was above the average for cars of a similar age (74.9%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 47 |
| 2 | Brakes | 3.4% | 18 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.8% | 15 |
| 4 | Steering | 2.1% | 11 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 1.7% | 9 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.9% | 5 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stop lamp | 17 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 14 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 12 |
| 4 | Washers | 12 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 11 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 10 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 8.1% | 43 |
| 2 | Suspension | 7.7% | 41 |
| 3 | Steering | 6.7% | 36 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.1% | 27 |
| 5 | Other defects | 2.4% | 13 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 2.4% | 13 |
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 | 295 | 7.5% |
| 30-60k | 184 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 121 | 7.4% |
| 2022 | 105 | 11.4% |
| 2023 | 112 | 15.2% |
| 2024 | 97 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 99 | 8.1% |
What to check before buying a 2001 4/4
Before buying a 2001 Morgan 4/4, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 8.8% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (8.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (3.4% 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.
- Visibility (2.8% 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.
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 4/4s pass their MOT?
89.9% of the 534 2001 Morgan 4/4 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Morgan 4/4?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.8% of tests, followed by brakes (3.4%).
Does the 2001 4/4 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.5% in the 0-30k band to 13.0% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 534 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.