Morgan 4/4 MOT Failures

An analysis of 15,869 real DVSA MOT tests on the Morgan 4/4 — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads. Generations covered: S4 (1956–1993), S5 (1993–2018).

Where the Morgan 4/4 fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the Morgan 4/4 is wheel bearings worn — this model is 26 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 15,869 MOT tests, 4.64% of all Morgan 4/4 tests recorded this as a failure.

Suspension failures typically mean worn bushes, drop links, or dampers. These affect handling and tyre wear. Budget £150–£400 per corner at an independent garage for full suspension overhaul.

Other notable weak points include free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (411x the fleet average), steering rack wear (80x the fleet average), brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ... (73x the fleet average), and brakes imbalance across an axle (46x the fleet average). These ratios compare the Morgan 4/4's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 5 categories: Suspension, Steering, Brakes, Lights & Electrics, Exhaust & Emissions. If you're inspecting a Morgan 4/4 before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The Morgan 4/4's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

Under 60,000 miles

At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.

For the Morgan 4/4 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are emissions failure (469x the average) and brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ... (73x). stop lamps all missing or inoperative (43x) and steering rack wear (35x) also appear frequently.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

For the Morgan 4/4 specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... (411x the average) and fluid leak (16x). wheel bearings worn (13x) and wheel bearings worn also appear frequently.

The shift from emissions failure at lower mileages to free play in the steering, measured at the rim ... at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.

Known issues beyond the MOT

An MOT only tests roadworthiness at a single point in time — it won't catch developing faults, intermittent problems, or issues that haven't yet reached the failure threshold. These are the issues that Morgan 4/4 specialists and owners flag most frequently, drawn from manufacturer technical bulletins, workshop data, and verified owner reports.

Front wheel bearing failure Dangerous

Morgan 4/4 models suffer from premature front wheel bearing wear at extraordinarily high rates compared to conventional cars. Affects S4, S5; typical independent garage repair cost is £180–£350.

Brake binding and caliper seizure Major

Morgan 4/4 models show brake caliper binding at 14.8 times the national fleet average, with failures recorded across all mileage bands from new. Affects S4, S5; typical independent garage repair cost is £200–£400.

Stub axle wear Major

The Morgan 4/4 uses a traditional sliding pillar front suspension with stub axles that pivot on bronze bushes. Affects S4, S5; typical independent garage repair cost is £400–£700.

Steering rack gaiter damage

Morgan 4/4 models show steering rack gaiter and ball joint dust cover failures at up to 34.7 times the fleet average, particularly on 1.6L models from low mileages. Affects S4, S5; typical independent garage repair cost is £80–£150.

For the complete picture — including repair costs across independent, specialist, and dealer garages — see the full Morgan 4/4 common problems breakdown.

What to check before buying a Morgan 4/4

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a Morgan 4/4:

Suspension — check for wheel bearings worn. Steering — check for free play in the steering, measured at the rim ..., steering rack wear. Brakes — check for brake pedal anti-slip provision missing, loose ..., brakes imbalance across an axle.

Beyond the MOT items, ask specifically about front wheel bearing failure and brake binding and caliper seizure. These won't show up on a standard MOT but can be expensive to fix — repairs start from £180. A specialist pre-purchase inspection is worth the investment on this model.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. And verify the service history to confirm maintenance has been kept up to schedule. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.