1979 MG B — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

86.7%

Latest Pass Rate

5,342

Total Tests (All Years)

49,524 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1979 MG B as it ages.

30 yrs61.0%

→ ↑0.6%

31 yrs61.6%

→ ↓1.0%

32 yrs60.6%

→ ↓1.7%

33 yrs58.9%

→ ↑7.5%

34 yrs66.4%

→ ↓1.7%

35 yrs64.7%

→ ↑4.4%

36 yrs69.1%

→ ↓0.5%

37 yrs68.6%

→ ↑1.3%

38 yrs69.9%

→ ↓4.7%

39 yrs65.2%

→ ↑10.6%

40 yrs75.8%

→ ↑0.8%

41 yrs76.6%

→ ↓3.9%

42 yrs72.7%

→ ↓2.0%

43 yrs70.7%

→ ↑5.9%

44 yrs76.6%

→ ↑10.1%

45 yrs86.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	61.0%	516
31 yrs	61.6%	485
32 yrs	60.6%	482
33 yrs	58.9%	453
34 yrs	66.4%	450
35 yrs	64.7%	436
36 yrs	69.1%	440
37 yrs	68.6%	439
38 yrs	69.9%	438
39 yrs	65.2%	316
40 yrs	75.8%	256
41 yrs	76.6%	128
42 yrs	72.7%	154
43 yrs	70.7%	116
44 yrs	76.6%	128
45 yrs	86.7%	105

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1979 MG B pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (45 yrs)	86.7%	105
2023 (44 yrs)	76.6%	128
2022 (43 yrs)	70.7%	116
2021 (42 yrs)	72.7%	154
2020 (41 yrs)	76.6%	128
2019 (40 yrs)	75.8%	256
2018 (39 yrs)	65.2%	316
2017 (38 yrs)	69.9%	438
2016 (37 yrs)	68.6%	439
2015 (36 yrs)	69.1%	440
2014 (35 yrs)	64.7%	436
2013 (34 yrs)	66.4%	450
2012 (33 yrs)	58.9%	453
2011 (32 yrs)	60.6%	482
2010 (31 yrs)	61.6%	485
2009 (30 yrs)	61%	516

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

61.0%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 516Avg Mileage 51,388Top Failure Suspension — 18.8%

2010High Fail Rate

61.6%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 485Avg Mileage 51,656Top Failure Suspension — 17.7%

2011High Fail Rate

60.6%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 482Avg Mileage 50,831Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%

2012High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 453Avg Mileage 51,512Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.6%

2013

66.4%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 450Avg Mileage 51,543Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%

2014High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 436Avg Mileage 51,691Top Failure Suspension — 36.7%

2015

69.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 440Avg Mileage 52,117Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%

2016

68.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 439Avg Mileage 52,100Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.8%

2017

69.9%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 438Avg Mileage 50,248Top Failure Brakes — 30.1%

2018

65.2%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 316Avg Mileage 50,073Top Failure Suspension — 32.0%

2019

75.8%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 256Avg Mileage 49,285Top Failure Suspension — 23.0%

2020

76.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 128Avg Mileage 52,299Top Failure Brakes — 19.5%

2021

72.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 154Avg Mileage 50,896Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 22.7%

2022

70.7%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 116Avg Mileage 51,355Top Failure Suspension — 26.7%

2023

76.6%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 128Avg Mileage 47,676Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 19.5%

2024

86.7%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 105Avg Mileage 49,524Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.3%

MOT results for 1979 MG B by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	61.0%	516	51,388	Suspension — 18.8%
2010	31	61.6%	485	51,656	Suspension — 17.7%
2011	32	60.6%	482	50,831	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.5%
2012	33	58.9%	453	51,512	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 21.6%
2013	34	66.4%	450	51,543	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.7%
2014	35	64.7%	436	51,691	Suspension — 36.7%
2015	36	69.1%	440	52,117	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.7%
2016	37	68.6%	439	52,100	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 30.8%
2017	38	69.9%	438	50,248	Brakes — 30.1%
2018	39	65.2%	316	50,073	Suspension — 32.0%
2019	40	75.8%	256	49,285	Suspension — 23.0%
2020	41	76.6%	128	52,299	Brakes — 19.5%
2021	42	72.7%	154	50,896	Noise, emissions and leaks — 22.7%
2022	43	70.7%	116	51,355	Suspension — 26.7%
2023	44	76.6%	128	47,676	Noise, emissions and leaks — 19.5%
2024	45	86.7%	105	49,524	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 13.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1979 MG B, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

25.0%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

23.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Brakes

20.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

18.9%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

16.9%

↓ 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
Suspension	18.8% (30 yrs)	8.6% (45 yrs)	-10.2%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	18.2% (30 yrs)	8.6% (45 yrs)	-9.6%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982

← Back to MG B overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the MG B page →

About This Data

This page shows how MG B cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 5,342 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.