1971 Austin Sprite — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

84.3%

Latest Pass Rate

849

Total Tests (All Years)

38,031 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for Sprite

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 Austin Sprite as it ages.

38 yrs65.6%

→ ↑8.8%

39 yrs74.4%

→ ↑2.7%

40 yrs77.1%

→ ↓1.3%

41 yrs75.8%

→ ↓7.0%

42 yrs68.8%

→ ↓2.8%

43 yrs66.0%

→ ↑8.7%

44 yrs74.7%

→ ↑2.1%

45 yrs76.8%

→ ↑7.5%

46 yrs84.3%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	65.6%	93
39 yrs	74.4%	90
40 yrs	77.1%	96
41 yrs	75.8%	91
42 yrs	68.8%	93
43 yrs	66.0%	103
44 yrs	74.7%	99
45 yrs	76.8%	95
46 yrs	84.3%	89

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Austin Sprite pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2017 (46 yrs)	84.3%	89
2016 (45 yrs)	76.8%	95
2015 (44 yrs)	74.7%	99
2014 (43 yrs)	66%	103
2013 (42 yrs)	68.8%	93
2012 (41 yrs)	75.8%	91
2011 (40 yrs)	77.1%	96
2010 (39 yrs)	74.4%	90
2009 (38 yrs)	65.6%	93

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

65.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 93Avg Mileage 41,124Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%

2010

74.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 90Avg Mileage 45,087Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.6%

2011

77.1%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 96Avg Mileage 40,204Top Failure Suspension — 14.6%

2012

75.8%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 91Avg Mileage 40,164Top Failure Suspension — 11.0%

2013

68.8%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 93Avg Mileage 43,137Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%

2014

66.0%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 103Avg Mileage 40,007Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.6%

2015

74.7%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 99Avg Mileage 41,171Top Failure Suspension — 33.3%

2016

76.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 95Avg Mileage 41,093Top Failure Brakes — 24.2%

2017

84.3%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 89Avg Mileage 38,031Top Failure Brakes — 23.6%

MOT results for 1971 Austin Sprite by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	65.6%	93	41,124	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%
2010	39	74.4%	90	45,087	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 15.6%
2011	40	77.1%	96	40,204	Suspension — 14.6%
2012	41	75.8%	91	40,164	Suspension — 11.0%
2013	42	68.8%	93	43,137	Brakes — 33.3%
2014	43	66.0%	103	40,007	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 47.6%
2015	44	74.7%	99	41,171	Suspension — 33.3%
2016	45	76.8%	95	41,093	Brakes — 24.2%
2017	46	84.3%	89	38,031	Brakes — 23.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Austin Sprite, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

22.8%

— Consistent

Brakes

20.8%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

20.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

8.0%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

7.6%

↓ Decreases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	12.9% (38 yrs)	23.6% (46 yrs)	+10.7%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	15.1% (38 yrs)	10.1% (46 yrs)	-5.0%	🟢 ↓
Steering	9.7% (38 yrs)	5.6% (46 yrs)	-4.1%	🟢 ↓
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	20.4% (38 yrs)	21.3% (46 yrs)	+0.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1970 1971

← Back to Austin Sprite overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Austin Sprite page →

About This Data

This page shows how Austin Sprite cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2017, covering 849 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.