1978 MG Midget 1500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

66.7%

Latest Pass Rate

4,682

Total Tests (All Years)

55,653 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 Midget 1500 as it ages.

31 yrs56.3%

→ ↑3.1%

32 yrs59.4%

→ ↑0.8%

33 yrs60.2%

→ ↑2.0%

34 yrs62.2%

→ ↓1.7%

35 yrs60.5%

→ ↓0.6%

36 yrs59.9%

→ ↑3.8%

37 yrs63.7%

→ ↓2.6%

38 yrs61.1%

→ ↓0.2%

39 yrs60.9%

→ ↑11.2%

40 yrs72.1%

→ ↑2.5%

41 yrs74.6%

→ ↓9.7%

42 yrs64.9%

→ ↑4.7%

43 yrs69.6%

→ ↓4.5%

44 yrs65.1%

→ ↑4.7%

45 yrs69.8%

→ ↓3.1%

46 yrs66.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	56.3%	503
32 yrs	59.4%	475
33 yrs	60.2%	470
34 yrs	62.2%	444
35 yrs	60.5%	415
36 yrs	59.9%	429
37 yrs	63.7%	438
38 yrs	61.1%	427
39 yrs	60.9%	379
40 yrs	72.1%	251
41 yrs	74.6%	118
42 yrs	64.9%	74
43 yrs	69.6%	92
44 yrs	65.1%	63
45 yrs	69.8%	53
46 yrs	66.7%	51

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1978 MG Midget 1500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (46 yrs)	66.7%	51
2023 (45 yrs)	69.8%	53
2022 (44 yrs)	65.1%	63
2021 (43 yrs)	69.6%	92
2020 (42 yrs)	64.9%	74
2019 (41 yrs)	74.6%	118
2018 (40 yrs)	72.1%	251
2017 (39 yrs)	60.9%	379
2016 (38 yrs)	61.1%	427
2015 (37 yrs)	63.7%	438
2014 (36 yrs)	59.9%	429
2013 (35 yrs)	60.5%	415
2012 (34 yrs)	62.2%	444
2011 (33 yrs)	60.2%	470
2010 (32 yrs)	59.4%	475
2009 (31 yrs)	56.3%	503

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

56.3%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 503Avg Mileage 53,781Top Failure Brakes — 24.3%

2010High Fail Rate

59.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 475Avg Mileage 55,299Top Failure Suspension — 23.2%

2011High Fail Rate

60.2%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 470Avg Mileage 55,565Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.0%

2012High Fail Rate

62.2%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 444Avg Mileage 53,541Top Failure Suspension — 20.3%

2013High Fail Rate

60.5%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 415Avg Mileage 53,232Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.1%

2014High Fail Rate

59.9%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 429Avg Mileage 53,024Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.4%

2015High Fail Rate

63.7%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 438Avg Mileage 54,408Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.4%

2016High Fail Rate

61.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 427Avg Mileage 54,838Top Failure Suspension — 51.5%

2017High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 379Avg Mileage 55,182Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.3%

2018

72.1%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 251Avg Mileage 53,515Top Failure Suspension — 29.5%

2019

74.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 118Avg Mileage 54,645Top Failure Suspension — 28.0%

2020High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 74Avg Mileage 50,385Top Failure Suspension — 40.5%

2021

69.6%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 92Avg Mileage 55,226Top Failure Brakes — 37.0%

2022

65.1%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 63Avg Mileage 50,728Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.6%

2023

69.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 53Avg Mileage 55,763Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 30.2%

2024

66.7%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 51Avg Mileage 55,653Top Failure Suspension — 37.3%

MOT results for 1978 MG Midget 1500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	56.3%	503	53,781	Brakes — 24.3%
2010	32	59.4%	475	55,299	Suspension — 23.2%
2011	33	60.2%	470	55,565	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.0%
2012	34	62.2%	444	53,541	Suspension — 20.3%
2013	35	60.5%	415	53,232	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 45.1%
2014	36	59.9%	429	53,024	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 53.4%
2015	37	63.7%	438	54,408	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.4%
2016	38	61.1%	427	54,838	Suspension — 51.5%
2017	39	60.9%	379	55,182	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 43.3%
2018	40	72.1%	251	53,515	Suspension — 29.5%
2019	41	74.6%	118	54,645	Suspension — 28.0%
2020	42	64.9%	74	50,385	Suspension — 40.5%
2021	43	69.6%	92	55,226	Brakes — 37.0%
2022	44	65.1%	63	50,728	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 47.6%
2023	45	69.8%	53	55,763	Noise, emissions and leaks — 30.2%
2024	46	66.7%	51	55,653	Suspension — 37.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1978 MG Midget 1500, with age trends.

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

32.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Suspension

31.7%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

30.1%

— Consistent

Brakes

29.7%

↑ Increases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

21.3%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	20.3% (31 yrs)	37.3% (46 yrs)	+17.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	24.3% (31 yrs)	27.5% (46 yrs)	+3.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980

← Back to MG Midget 1500 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the MG Midget 1500 page →

About This Data

This page shows how MG Midget 1500 cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 4,682 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.