1978 MG Mgb — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

76.7%

Latest Pass Rate

867

Total Tests (All Years)

46,632 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 1978 MG Mgb as it ages.

31 yrs58.0%

→ ↑6.4%

32 yrs64.4%

→ ↑1.9%

33 yrs66.3%

→ ↓8.2%

34 yrs58.1%

→ ↑6.3%

35 yrs64.4%

→ ↑11.9%

36 yrs76.3%

→ ↓14.2%

37 yrs62.1%

→ ↑11.7%

38 yrs73.8%

→ ↓5.9%

39 yrs67.9%

→ ↑8.8%

40 yrs76.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	58.0%	100
32 yrs	64.4%	90
33 yrs	66.3%	95
34 yrs	58.1%	93
35 yrs	64.4%	101
36 yrs	76.3%	93
37 yrs	62.1%	87
38 yrs	73.8%	84
39 yrs	67.9%	81
40 yrs	76.7%	43

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 MG Mgb pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	76.7%	43
2017 (39 yrs)	67.9%	81
2016 (38 yrs)	73.8%	84
2015 (37 yrs)	62.1%	87
2014 (36 yrs)	76.3%	93
2013 (35 yrs)	64.4%	101
2012 (34 yrs)	58.1%	93
2011 (33 yrs)	66.3%	95
2010 (32 yrs)	64.4%	90
2009 (31 yrs)	58%	100

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

58.0%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 100Avg Mileage 48,717Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.0%

2010High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 90Avg Mileage 51,756Top Failure Brakes — 20.0%

2011

66.3%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 95Avg Mileage 47,680Top Failure Brakes — 17.9%

2012High Fail Rate

58.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 93Avg Mileage 50,978Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%

2013High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 101Avg Mileage 46,856Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%

2014

76.3%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 93Avg Mileage 48,873Top Failure Brakes — 24.7%

2015High Fail Rate

62.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 87Avg Mileage 48,523Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%

2016

73.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 84Avg Mileage 56,370Top Failure Brakes — 23.8%

2017

67.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 81Avg Mileage 50,736Top Failure Suspension — 42.0%

2018

76.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 43Avg Mileage 46,632Top Failure Suspension — 18.6%

MOT results for 1978 MG Mgb by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	58.0%	100	48,717	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.0%
2010	32	64.4%	90	51,756	Brakes — 20.0%
2011	33	66.3%	95	47,680	Brakes — 17.9%
2012	34	58.1%	93	50,978	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 20.4%
2013	35	64.4%	101	46,856	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 35.6%
2014	36	76.3%	93	48,873	Brakes — 24.7%
2015	37	62.1%	87	48,523	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 66.7%
2016	38	73.8%	84	56,370	Brakes — 23.8%
2017	39	67.9%	81	50,736	Suspension — 42.0%
2018	40	76.7%	43	46,632	Suspension — 18.6%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 MG Mgb, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

26.9%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

25.6%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

24.4%

↑ Increases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

20.8%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

17.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	17.0% (31 yrs)	11.6% (40 yrs)	-5.4%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	15.0% (31 yrs)	18.6% (40 yrs)	+3.6%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

← Back to MG Mgb overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Mgb cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 867 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.