1980 MG Mgb — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1980 perform at MOT as they age

46 years

Current Age

74.2%

Latest Pass Rate

425

Total Tests (All Years)

49,996 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 1980 MG Mgb as it ages.

29 yrs59.0%

→ ↑0.6%

30 yrs59.6%

→ ↑14.9%

31 yrs74.5%

→ ↓24.5%

32 yrs50.0%

→ ↑14.4%

33 yrs64.4%

→ ↓6.6%

34 yrs57.8%

→ ↓1.0%

35 yrs56.8%

→ ↓6.8%

36 yrs50.0%

→ ↑6.8%

37 yrs56.8%

→ ↑17.4%

38 yrs74.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
29 yrs	59.0%	39
30 yrs	59.6%	47
31 yrs	74.5%	47
32 yrs	50.0%	48
33 yrs	64.4%	45
34 yrs	57.8%	45
35 yrs	56.8%	44
36 yrs	50.0%	42
37 yrs	56.8%	37
38 yrs	74.2%	31

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1980 MG Mgb pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (38 yrs)	74.2%	31
2017 (37 yrs)	56.8%	37
2016 (36 yrs)	50%	42
2015 (35 yrs)	56.8%	44
2014 (34 yrs)	57.8%	45
2013 (33 yrs)	64.4%	45
2012 (32 yrs)	50%	48
2011 (31 yrs)	74.5%	47
2010 (30 yrs)	59.6%	47
2009 (29 yrs)	59%	39

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

59.0%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 39Avg Mileage 51,897Top Failure Suspension — 23.1%

2010High Fail Rate

59.6%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 47Avg Mileage 51,322Top Failure Brakes — 19.1%

2011

74.5%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 47Avg Mileage 55,814Top Failure Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 12.8%

2012High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 48Avg Mileage 58,861Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%

2013High Fail Rate

64.4%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 45Avg Mileage 54,599Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2%

2014High Fail Rate

57.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 45Avg Mileage 56,548Top Failure Brakes — 55.6%

2015High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 44Avg Mileage 54,874Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.2%

2016High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 42Avg Mileage 54,130Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.9%

2017High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 37Avg Mileage 44,167Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.4%

2018

74.2%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 31Avg Mileage 49,996Top Failure Suspension — 25.8%

MOT results for 1980 MG Mgb by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	29	59.0%	39	51,897	Suspension — 23.1%
2010	30	59.6%	47	51,322	Brakes — 19.1%
2011	31	74.5%	47	55,814	Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions — 12.8%
2012	32	50.0%	48	58,861	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 27.1%
2013	33	64.4%	45	54,599	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.2%
2014	34	57.8%	45	56,548	Brakes — 55.6%
2015	35	56.8%	44	54,874	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.2%
2016	36	50.0%	42	54,130	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 61.9%
2017	37	56.8%	37	44,167	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 51.4%
2018	38	74.2%	31	49,996	Suspension — 25.8%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1980 MG Mgb, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

34.6%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

27.4%

— Consistent

Suspension

26.9%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

19.3%

— Consistent

Steering

18.1%

↑ Increases 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	23.1% (29 yrs)	25.8% (38 yrs)	+2.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	15.4% (29 yrs)	12.9% (38 yrs)	-2.5%	🟢 ↓

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 1980 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 425 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.