Austin A40 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Austin A40 car check
Is the Austin A40 reliable? We analysed 7,076 real MOT tests across 1,266 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Austin A40? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Austin A40 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brakes imbalanced across an axle, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and brake binding. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Austin A40.
Austin A40 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Austin A40. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Austin A40 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Austin A40 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Austin A40 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Austin A40 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Austin A40 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Austin A40 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Austin A40 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Austin A40 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 56 | 89.3% | 21,621 | 37,863 | 64,648 |
| 1968 | 156 | 72.4% | 47,778 | 75,554 | 84,050 |
| 1967 | 466 | 77.0% | 33,076 | 54,514 | 71,642 |
| 1966 | 336 | 78.6% | 47,001 | 64,089 | 77,470 |
| 1965 | 356 | 79.8% | 36,580 | 49,897 | 66,972 |
| 1964 | 310 | 81.0% | 41,420 | 57,644 | 70,928 |
| 1963 | 477 | 82.2% | 37,203 | 58,768 | 71,134 |
| 1962 | 542 | 76.8% | 30,390 | 49,354 | 72,952 |
| 1961 | 540 | 83.1% | 33,128 | 53,620 | 73,252 |
| 1960 | 645 | 83.6% | 34,021 | 53,821 | 70,768 |
| 1959 | 310 | 83.9% | 34,190 | 54,690 | 68,849 |
| 1956 | 124 | 84.7% | 10,812 | 33,730 | 56,706 |
| 1955 | 164 | 78.7% | 32,279 | 59,768 | 70,103 |
| 1954 | 823 | 79.7% | 26,174 | 51,962 | 74,572 |
| 1953 | 556 | 82.0% | 21,354 | 46,806 | 65,278 |
| 1952 | 313 | 86.3% | 26,244 | 51,833 | 66,327 |
| 1951 | 160 | 87.5% | 4,326 | 39,404 | 65,219 |
| 1950 | 105 | 86.7% | 10,621 | 21,600 | 77,761 |
| 1949 | 66 | 93.9% | 24,600 | 58,380 | 66,157 |
How Long Does a Austin A40 Last?
Based on 1,266 Austin A40 vehicles on UK roads.
Austin A40 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Austin A40 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Austin A40
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
93.9% MOT pass rate from 66 tests
72.4% MOT pass rate from 156 tests
The best year to buy a used Austin A40 is 1949, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 93.9% across 66 tests. The 1968 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Austin A40 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin A40 THIS CAR | 81.5% | 7,076 | 52,292 mi | 77 yrs |
| Austin Mini Mayfair | 64.7% | 51,788 | 54,118 mi | 44 yrs |
| Austin Mini 1000 City E | 64.5% | 44,703 | 54,880 mi | 44 yrs |
| Austin Mini | 75.1% | 18,242 | 47,796 mi | 66 yrs |
| Ford Freedom | 84.1% | 10,630 | 30,895 mi | 10 yrs |
Compared to the Austin Mini Mayfair (64.7% pass rate) and the Austin Mini 1000 City E (64.5% pass rate), the Austin A40 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Austin A40 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Austin A40Should you buy a used Austin A40?
The Austin A40 has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.5% across 7,076 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Austin A40 are brakes imbalanced across an axle (212 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (204), and brake binding (147). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Austin A40 owner drives around 269 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Austin A40 models stay on UK roads for around 77 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.