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Pass Your MOT

1996 MG B MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for B models manufactured in 1996, based on 37 real MOT test results.

78.4%
Pass Rate
21.6%
Fail Rate
37
Total Tests
46,939
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1996 MG B MOT Analysis

The 1996 MG B has an MOT pass rate of 78.4% based on 37 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 46,939 miles on the odometer. With a 21.6% failure rate, the 1996 B is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1996 MG B is Brakes, responsible for 13.5% of failures. 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 range from £150–400. Body, chassis, structure is the second most common issue at 10.8%. Suspension follows at 8.1%.

⚠ Based on limited data (37 tests)

Top failures specific to 1996 models only. The overall B 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
1Brakes13.5%5
2Body, Chassis, Structure10.8%4
3Suspension8.1%3
4Noise, Emissions And Leaks5.4%2
5Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems5.4%2

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 46,939 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.

Brakes2.88% per 10K miBody & Structure2.30% per 10K miSuspension1.73% per 10K miNoise, emissions and leaks1.15% per 10K miSeat Belts1.15% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Brakes2.8813.5%5
Body & Structure2.3010.8%4
Suspension1.738.1%3
Noise, emissions and leaks1.155.4%2
Seat Belts1.155.4%2

Mileage Statistics

46,939
Mean
64,561
Median
41,713
25th Percentile
79,725
75th Percentile
4.60% failures per 10K miles

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

About This Data

The 1996 MG B has an MOT pass rate of 78.4% based on 37 tests — well above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 46,939 miles on the odometer. With a 21.6% failure rate, the 1996 B is rated as "Excellent" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1996 MG B, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to brakes: 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). With relatively low average mileage of 46,939 miles, many of these vehicles are still in good mechanical condition.

Brakes — 13.5% of failures

Brakes issues account for 13.5% of MOT failures on 1996 MG B 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).

Body, chassis, structure — 10.8% of failures

Body, chassis, structure issues account for 10.8% of MOT failures on 1996 MG B models. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: £100–500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.

Suspension — 8.1% of failures

Suspension issues account for 8.1% of MOT failures on 1996 MG B models. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.

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

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