Austin Healey
From 269 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. and windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 12 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 12 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 9 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 7 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 5 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 4 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 4 |
| stop lamps all missing or inoperative | 4 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 4 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 4 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 3 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 46.4% of failures are serious: 32.1% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 14.3% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £108.
Austin Healey on UK roads
The fleet is growing: 6 newly registered in the past year with 4 leaving, a net gain of 2. Currently at its highest numbers ever.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,104 | 610 | +3 | -0 | +6 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,112 | 596 | +3 | -0 | +8 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,100 | 600 | +0 | -0 | +12 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,112 | 576 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,121 | 571 | +1 | -0 | +2 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,124 | 566 | +1 | -12 | -11 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,132 | 569 | +0 | -0 | +32 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,116 | 553 | +3 | -0 | +3 |
2 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healey Sprite | Petrol | 1,365 | 65% |
| Healey | Petrol | 739 | 35% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all Healeys tested had between 9,715 and 56,874 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 24,259 median miles, the Healey has 0.047 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Austin models
Common questions
What is the Austin Healey MOT pass rate?
The Austin Healey has a 88.5% MOT pass rate based on 269 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Austin Healey?
The most common MOT failure on the Austin Healey is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 12 failures. Other common issues include brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle..
How many Austin Healeys are on UK roads?
There are 2,104 Austin Healeys currently licensed on UK roads, with 610 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Austin Healey at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Austin Healey is 24,259 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 9,715 and 56,874 miles.
Buying a used Healey?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.