Austin Princess MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 328 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 23.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Austin Princess MOT Reliability Overview
The Austin Princess is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 328 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.8% and a failure rate of 23.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Austin Princess earns a "Excellent" reliability rating. The average Austin Princess presents for MOT with approximately 55,314 miles on the clock. Manufacture year matters: 1960 models achieve the highest pass rate at 86.7%, while 1966 models have the lowest at 80.3%. This 6.4 percentage point difference suggests notable variation in build quality or component durability across production years.
The most common MOT failure for the Austin Princess is Brakes, affecting 18.9% of all tests. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. The second most common issue is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 17.4%. Steering rounds out the top three at 11.3%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 33.5% | 110 |
| 2 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 27.7% | 91 |
| 3 | Suspension | 12.5% | 41 |
| 4 | Steering | 12.2% | 40 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 8.2% | 27 |
| 6 | Body, Structure And General Items | 7.3% | 24 |
| 7 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 7.0% | 23 |
| 8 | Tyres | 6.7% | 22 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 2.4% | 8 |
| 10 | Items Not Tested | 0.6% | 2 |
| 11 | Non-component Advisories | 0.6% | 2 |
| 12 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 0.3% | 1 |
| 13 | Visibility | 0.3% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 55,314 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 6.06 | 33.5% | 110 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 5.02 | 27.7% | 91 |
| Suspension | 2.26 | 12.5% | 41 |
| Steering | 2.20 | 12.2% | 40 |
| Visibility | 1.55 | 8.5% | 28 |
| Body & Structure | 1.32 | 7.3% | 24 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.27 | 7.0% | 23 |
| Tyres | 1.21 | 6.7% | 22 |
| Seat Belts | 0.45 | 2.4% | 8 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.11 | 0.6% | 2 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.11 | 0.6% | 2 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.06 | 0.3% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Austin Princess has 55,314 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Austin Princess has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.19% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Austin Princess MOT Data
The Austin Princess is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 328 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 4 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 76.8% and a failure rate of 23.2%, which is well above the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Austin Princess owners, these results suggest a reliable vehicle that generally passes its MOT without major issues. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific Princess is likely to perform.
Brakes — 18.9% of failures
Brakes issues account for 18.9% of MOT failures on the Austin Princess. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 17.4% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 17.4% of MOT failures on the Austin Princess. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Steering — 11.3% of failures
Steering issues account for 11.3% of MOT failures on the Austin Princess. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Austin Princess?
Based on 328 MOT tests in our database, the Austin Princess has an overall pass rate of 76.8% (23.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Austin Princess?
The top 3 reasons a Austin Princess fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (18.9%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (17.4%), 3. Steering (11.3%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Austin Princess reliable?
With a 23.2% MOT failure rate, the Princess is more reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Austin Princess?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (18.9%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (17.4%); Steering (11.3%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.