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Austin Maestro Special Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Austin Maestro Special car check

Is the Austin Maestro Special reliable? We analysed 710 real MOT tests across 169 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 710 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.3%
Typical Mileage
61,241mi
Annual Mileage
1,168mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
38yrs

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

Austin Maestro Special Number Plates

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

Austin Maestro Special MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

60.9%
1990
65.9%
1989
75.4%
1988

Austin Maestro Special Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 84
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 57
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 38
constant velocity joint gaiter split 34
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 34
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 31
brake binding 27
Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion 24
Brake pipe excessively corroded 22
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 21

Austin Maestro Special Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
392 mi/yr
Typical
1,168 mi/yr
Average
2,040 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,513 mi/yr

Austin Maestro Special MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1990 64 60.9% 49,279 69,920 90,500
1989 580 65.9% 50,800 61,069 75,891
1988 65 75.4% 39,848 44,538 68,349

How Long Does a Austin Maestro Special Last?

Based on 169 Austin Maestro Special vehicles on UK roads.

Average
18.6 years
Median
17.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
38 years

Austin Maestro Special Mileage Distribution

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

Median
61,241 mi
75th Percentile
75,891 mi
95th Percentile
123,118 mi
Max Recorded
500,004 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Austin Maestro Special

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

Best year
1988

75.4% MOT pass rate from 65 tests

Year to avoid
1990

60.9% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

The best year to buy a used Austin Maestro Special is 1988, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 75.4% across 65 tests. The 1990 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.9% — 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 Special Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Austin Maestro Special THIS CAR 66.3% 710 61,241 mi 38 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
Hyundai I30 N T-gdi Auto 91.8% 1,158 26,555 mi — 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 Special outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Austin Maestro Special?

The Austin Maestro Special has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.3% across 710 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Austin Maestro Special are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (84 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (57), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (38). 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 Special owner drives around 1,168 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 Special models stay on UK roads for around 38 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 Special — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Austin Maestro Special reliable?
Based on 710 MOT tests, the Austin Maestro Special has a 66.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Austin Maestro Special?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Austin Maestro Special do per year?
The typical Austin Maestro Special does around 1,168 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Austin Maestro Special last?
Most Austin Maestro Special models stay on UK roads for around 38 years based on our analysis of 169 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Austin Maestro Special?
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 Special?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Austin Maestro Special is 1988 with a 75.4% pass rate across 65 tests.