1978 MG Unclassified — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age

48 years

Current Age

74.2%

Latest Pass Rate

761

Total Tests (All Years)

57,142 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 Unclassified as it ages.

31 yrs46.7%

→ ↑11.6%

32 yrs58.3%

→ ↓1.5%

33 yrs56.8%

→ ↓6.8%

34 yrs50.0%

→ ↑13.0%

35 yrs63.0%

→ ↓6.3%

36 yrs56.7%

→ ↑10.9%

37 yrs67.6%

→ ↓1.6%

38 yrs66.0%

→ ↓5.6%

39 yrs60.4%

→ ↑13.8%

40 yrs74.2%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
31 yrs	46.7%	169
32 yrs	58.3%	156
33 yrs	56.8%	111
34 yrs	50.0%	86
35 yrs	63.0%	46
36 yrs	56.7%	30
37 yrs	67.6%	37
38 yrs	66.0%	47
39 yrs	60.4%	48
40 yrs	74.2%	31

Pass Rate Trend

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

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2018 (40 yrs)	74.2%	31
2017 (39 yrs)	60.4%	48
2016 (38 yrs)	66%	47
2015 (37 yrs)	67.6%	37
2014 (36 yrs)	56.7%	30
2013 (35 yrs)	63%	46
2012 (34 yrs)	50%	86
2011 (33 yrs)	56.8%	111
2010 (32 yrs)	58.3%	156
2009 (31 yrs)	46.7%	169

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 169Avg Mileage 52,057Top Failure Brakes — 27.2%

2010High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 156Avg Mileage 54,228Top Failure Suspension — 25.0%

2011High Fail Rate

56.8%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 111Avg Mileage 47,106Top Failure Suspension — 28.8%

2012High Fail Rate

50.0%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 86Avg Mileage 52,354Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%

2013High Fail Rate

63.0%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 46Avg Mileage 51,020Top Failure Brakes — 37.0%

2014High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 30Avg Mileage 64,506Top Failure Suspension — 63.3%

2015

67.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 37Avg Mileage 56,390Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%

2016

66.0%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 47Avg Mileage 56,712Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.6%

2017High Fail Rate

60.4%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 48Avg Mileage 52,192Top Failure Brakes — 62.5%

2018

74.2%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 31Avg Mileage 57,142Top Failure Brakes — 35.5%

MOT results for 1978 MG Unclassified by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	31	46.7%	169	52,057	Brakes — 27.2%
2010	32	58.3%	156	54,228	Suspension — 25.0%
2011	33	56.8%	111	47,106	Suspension — 28.8%
2012	34	50.0%	86	52,354	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 32.6%
2013	35	63.0%	46	51,020	Brakes — 37.0%
2014	36	56.7%	30	64,506	Suspension — 63.3%
2015	37	67.6%	37	56,390	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 40.5%
2016	38	66.0%	47	56,712	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 42.6%
2017	39	60.4%	48	52,192	Brakes — 62.5%
2018	40	74.2%	31	57,142	Brakes — 35.5%

Common MOT Failures

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

Brakes

33.6%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

33.4%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

30.4%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, Structure and General Items

29.2%

— Consistent

Exhaust, Fuel and Emissions

21.0%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment	26.6% (31 yrs)	12.9% (40 yrs)	-13.7%	🟢 ↓
Brakes	27.2% (31 yrs)	35.5% (40 yrs)	+8.3%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

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

About This Data

This page shows how MG Unclassified cars manufactured in 1978 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2018, covering 761 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.