1978 MG Roadster — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

76.7%

Latest Pass Rate

464

Total Tests (All Years)

46,083 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 Roadster as it ages.

31 yrs71.9%

→ ↓4.5%

32 yrs67.4%

→ ↓2.8%

33 yrs64.6%

→ ↑11.5%

34 yrs76.1%

→ ↓1.6%

35 yrs74.5%

→ ↓2.0%

36 yrs72.5%

→ ↑2.5%

37 yrs75.0%

→ ↓11.4%

38 yrs63.6%

→ ↑15.5%

39 yrs79.1%

→ ↓2.4%

40 yrs76.7%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	71.9%	57
32 yrs	67.4%	46
33 yrs	64.6%	48
34 yrs	76.1%	46
35 yrs	74.5%	47
36 yrs	72.5%	51
37 yrs	75.0%	52
38 yrs	63.6%	44
39 yrs	79.1%	43
40 yrs	76.7%	30

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	76.7%	30
2017 (39 yrs)	79.1%	43
2016 (38 yrs)	63.6%	44
2015 (37 yrs)	75%	52
2014 (36 yrs)	72.5%	51
2013 (35 yrs)	74.5%	47
2012 (34 yrs)	76.1%	46
2011 (33 yrs)	64.6%	48
2010 (32 yrs)	67.4%	46
2009 (31 yrs)	71.9%	57

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

71.9%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 57Avg Mileage 47,599Top Failure Brakes — 10.5%

2010

67.4%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 46Avg Mileage 48,274Top Failure Suspension — 21.7%

2011High Fail Rate

64.6%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 48Avg Mileage 44,319Top Failure Brakes — 22.9%

2012

76.1%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 46Avg Mileage 55,634Top Failure Suspension — 13.0%

2013

74.5%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 47Avg Mileage 43,053Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%

2014

72.5%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 51Avg Mileage 43,084Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%

2015

75.0%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 52Avg Mileage 42,023Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.8%

2016High Fail Rate

63.6%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 44Avg Mileage 40,363Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.3%

2017

79.1%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 43Avg Mileage 46,805Top Failure Brakes — 27.9%

2018

76.7%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 30Avg Mileage 46,083Top Failure Brakes — 23.3%

MOT results for 1978 MG Roadster by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	71.9%	57	47,599	Brakes — 10.5%
2010	32	67.4%	46	48,274	Suspension — 21.7%
2011	33	64.6%	48	44,319	Brakes — 22.9%
2012	34	76.1%	46	55,634	Suspension — 13.0%
2013	35	74.5%	47	43,053	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 34.0%
2014	36	72.5%	51	43,084	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 29.4%
2015	37	75.0%	52	42,023	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 28.8%
2016	38	63.6%	44	40,363	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 52.3%
2017	39	79.1%	43	46,805	Brakes — 27.9%
2018	40	76.7%	30	46,083	Brakes — 23.3%

Common MOT Failures

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

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

20.9%

— Consistent

Brakes

18.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

17.9%

↑ Increases with age

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

17.2%

↓ Decreases with age

Steering

10.3%

↑ 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	7.0% (31 yrs)	20.0% (40 yrs)	+13.0%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	10.5% (31 yrs)	23.3% (40 yrs)	+12.8%	🔴 ↑
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	10.5% (31 yrs)	10.0% (40 yrs)	-0.5%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1960 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1977 1978 1979

← Back to MG Roadster overview

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Roadster cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 464 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.