1979 MG Midget — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age

47 years

Current Age

72.2%

Latest Pass Rate

2,052

Total Tests (All Years)

32,667 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 Midget as it ages.

30 yrs52.9%

→ ↑2.0%

31 yrs54.9%

→ ↓2.0%

32 yrs52.9%

→ ↑1.7%

33 yrs54.6%

→ ↓1.8%

34 yrs52.8%

→ ↑0.1%

35 yrs52.9%

→ ↑3.6%

36 yrs56.5%

→ ↑9.6%

37 yrs66.1%

→ ↓1.4%

38 yrs64.7%

→ ↑3.4%

39 yrs68.1%

→ ↓1.1%

40 yrs67.0%

→ ↓2.1%

41 yrs64.9%

→ ↑5.8%

42 yrs70.7%

→ ↓15.9%

43 yrs54.8%

→ ↑7.7%

44 yrs62.5%

→ ↑9.7%

45 yrs72.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
30 yrs	52.9%	174
31 yrs	54.9%	173
32 yrs	52.9%	174
33 yrs	54.6%	174
34 yrs	52.8%	176
35 yrs	52.9%	191
36 yrs	56.5%	184
37 yrs	66.1%	171
38 yrs	64.7%	167
39 yrs	68.1%	135
40 yrs	67.0%	100
41 yrs	64.9%	57
42 yrs	70.7%	58
43 yrs	54.8%	42
44 yrs	62.5%	40
45 yrs	72.2%	36

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (45 yrs)	72.2%	36
2023 (44 yrs)	62.5%	40
2022 (43 yrs)	54.8%	42
2021 (42 yrs)	70.7%	58
2020 (41 yrs)	64.9%	57
2019 (40 yrs)	67%	100
2018 (39 yrs)	68.1%	135
2017 (38 yrs)	64.7%	167
2016 (37 yrs)	66.1%	171
2015 (36 yrs)	56.5%	184
2014 (35 yrs)	52.9%	191
2013 (34 yrs)	52.8%	176
2012 (33 yrs)	54.6%	174
2011 (32 yrs)	52.9%	174
2010 (31 yrs)	54.9%	173
2009 (30 yrs)	52.9%	174

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 174Avg Mileage 50,930Top Failure Suspension — 25.9%

2010High Fail Rate

54.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 173Avg Mileage 53,396Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%

2011High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 174Avg Mileage 52,829Top Failure Suspension — 25.9%

2012High Fail Rate

54.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 174Avg Mileage 52,546Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%

2013High Fail Rate

52.8%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 176Avg Mileage 52,341Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.7%

2014High Fail Rate

52.9%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 191Avg Mileage 50,571Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.9%

2015High Fail Rate

56.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 184Avg Mileage 48,943Top Failure Suspension — 68.5%

2016

66.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 171Avg Mileage 52,349Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.2%

2017High Fail Rate

64.7%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 167Avg Mileage 50,530Top Failure Suspension — 52.1%

2018

68.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 135Avg Mileage 51,986Top Failure Brakes — 36.3%

2019

67.0%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 100Avg Mileage 46,406Top Failure Noise, emissions and leaks — 26.0%

2020High Fail Rate

64.9%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 57Avg Mileage 50,278Top Failure Brakes — 50.9%

2021

70.7%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 58Avg Mileage 50,263Top Failure Brakes — 29.3%

2022High Fail Rate

54.8%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 42Avg Mileage 45,168Top Failure Suspension — 52.4%

2023High Fail Rate

62.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 40Avg Mileage 43,707Top Failure Suspension — 52.5%

2024

72.2%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 36Avg Mileage 32,667Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 41.7%

MOT results for 1979 MG Midget by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	30	52.9%	174	50,930	Suspension — 25.9%
2010	31	54.9%	173	53,396	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 22.5%
2011	32	52.9%	174	52,829	Suspension — 25.9%
2012	33	54.6%	174	52,546	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 24.1%
2013	34	52.8%	176	52,341	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 59.7%
2014	35	52.9%	191	50,571	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 74.9%
2015	36	56.5%	184	48,943	Suspension — 68.5%
2016	37	66.1%	171	52,349	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 39.2%
2017	38	64.7%	167	50,530	Suspension — 52.1%
2018	39	68.1%	135	51,986	Brakes — 36.3%
2019	40	67.0%	100	46,406	Noise, emissions and leaks — 26.0%
2020	41	64.9%	57	50,278	Brakes — 50.9%
2021	42	70.7%	58	50,263	Brakes — 29.3%
2022	43	54.8%	42	45,168	Suspension — 52.4%
2023	44	62.5%	40	43,707	Suspension — 52.5%
2024	45	72.2%	36	32,667	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 41.7%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

40.2%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

36.2%

— Consistent

Brakes

34.9%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

29.6%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

23.0%

↑ 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
Brakes	21.8% (30 yrs)	27.8% (45 yrs)	+6.0%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	25.9% (30 yrs)	25.0% (45 yrs)	-0.9%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Midget cars manufactured in 1979 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,052 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.