Morris Minor 1000
From 1,629 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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., 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 and significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake. The top issue, 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., caused 104 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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. | 104 |
| 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 | 84 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 74 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 44 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 44 |
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 42 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 32 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 20 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 19 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 19 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21.4% of Minor 1000 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 46.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £142.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 79% | 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, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 1970 | 83.2% | 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., 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 |
| 1969 | 76.3% | 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, 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. |
| 1968 | 79.2% | 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., significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
3 earlier years
| 1967 | 84.6% | 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, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
| 1966 | 80.1% | 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., significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 1965 | 71.7% | 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., significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
Typical mileage
Half of all Minor 1000s tested had between 15,005 and 75,788 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 38,748 median miles, the Minor 1000 has 0.051 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Morris models
| Morris Minor | 81.8% |
Common questions
What is the Morris Minor 1000 MOT pass rate?
The Morris Minor 1000 has a 80.4% MOT pass rate based on 1,629 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Morris Minor 1000?
The most common MOT failure on the Morris Minor 1000 is 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., which caused 104 failures. Other common issues include 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.
What is the typical mileage of a Morris Minor 1000 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Morris Minor 1000 is 38,748 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 15,005 and 75,788 miles.
Buying a used Minor 1000?
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.
With a 80.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £142 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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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.