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Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto car check

Is the Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto reliable? We analysed 844 real MOT tests across 154 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 844 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
68.1%
Typical Mileage
54,301mi
Annual Mileage
828mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
42yrs

The Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto.

Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

67.4%
1989
66.2%
1988
70.2%
1987
73.5%
1986
66.7%
1985
68%
1984

Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 67
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 35
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 28
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 26
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 25
Stop lamp not working 21
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 19
Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion 17
brake binding 17
constant velocity joint gaiter split 17

Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
350 mi/yr
Typical
828 mi/yr
Average
1,533 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,045 mi/yr

Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1989 215 67.4% 38,060 56,120 70,607
1988 207 66.2% 36,852 55,811 74,782
1987 131 70.2% 39,790 58,690 70,010
1986 132 73.5% 36,341 58,790 66,906
1985 60 66.7% 43,727 47,838 66,304
1984 75 68.0% 33,891 49,029 125,379

How Long Does a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto Last?

Based on 154 Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto vehicles on UK roads.

Average
21.4 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
42 years

Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
54,301 mi
75th Percentile
70,094 mi
95th Percentile
118,198 mi
Max Recorded
745,239 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1986

73.5% MOT pass rate from 132 tests

Year to avoid
1988

66.2% MOT pass rate from 207 tests

The best year to buy a used Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.5% across 132 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 66.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto THIS CAR 68.1% 844 54,301 mi 42 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
Mz TS250/1 87.8% 907 21,540 mi 49 yrs

Compared to the Austin Mini Mayfair (64.7% pass rate) and the Austin Mini 1000 City E (64.5% pass rate), the Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto?

The Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto has an overall MOT pass rate of 68.1% across 844 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (67 recorded failures), exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (35), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (28). 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 Maestro 1.6 Auto owner drives around 828 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 Maestro 1.6 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 42 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.

Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto reliable?
Based on 844 MOT tests, the Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto has a 68.1% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto do per year?
The typical Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto does around 828 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto last?
Most Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto models stay on UK roads for around 42 years based on our analysis of 154 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Austin Maestro 1.6 Auto is 1986 with a 73.5% pass rate across 132 tests.