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Pass Your MOT

1980 General Motors Pontiac MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for Pontiac models manufactured in 1980, based on 48 real MOT test results.

91.7%
Pass Rate
8.3%
Fail Rate
48
Total Tests
74,836
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1980 General Motors Pontiac MOT Analysis

The 1980 General Motors Pontiac has an MOT pass rate of 91.7% based on 48 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 74,836 miles on the odometer. With a 8.3% failure rate, the 1980 Pontiac is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1980 General Motors Pontiac is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, responsible for 8.3% of failures. 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 range from £5–50. Brakes is the second most common issue at 4.2%. Driver's View of the Road follows at 4.2%.

⚠ Based on limited data (48 tests)

Top failures specific to 1980 models only. The overall Pontiac page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment8.3%4
2Brakes4.2%2
3Driver's View Of The Road4.2%2
4Steering4.2%2
5Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions2.1%1
6Suspension2.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 74,836 mi

For 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.

Lamps & Electrical1.11% per 10K miBrakes0.56% per 10K miVisibility0.56% per 10K miSteering0.56% per 10K miEmissions & Exhaust0.28% per 10K miSuspension0.28% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Lamps & Electrical1.118.3%4
Brakes0.564.2%2
Visibility0.564.2%2
Steering0.564.2%2
Emissions & Exhaust0.282.1%1
Suspension0.282.1%1

Mileage Statistics

74,836
Mean
78,630
Median
74,795
25th Percentile
89,797
75th Percentile
1.11% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1980 General Motors Pontiac has an MOT pass rate of 91.7% based on 48 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 74,836 miles on the odometer. With a 8.3% failure rate, the 1980 Pontiac is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1980 General Motors Pontiac, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment: 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. At 74,836 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 8.3% of failures

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 8.3% of MOT failures on 1980 General Motors Pontiac models. 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.

Brakes — 4.2% of failures

Brakes issues account for 4.2% of MOT failures on 1980 General Motors Pontiac models. 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).

Driver's View of the Road — 4.2% of failures

Driver's View of the Road issues account for 4.2% of MOT failures on 1980 General Motors Pontiac models. Driver's View of the Road issues are a common cause of MOT failure. Regular inspection and maintenance of these components helps ensure your vehicle passes its MOT. Typical repair costs: £100–400. Pre-MOT check: Have this system checked during regular servicing. Look for warning signs like unusual noises, vibrations, or dashboard warning lights.

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

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