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Austin Montego Hl Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Austin Montego Hl car check

Is the Austin Montego Hl reliable? We analysed 484 real MOT tests across 107 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 484 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.3%
Typical Mileage
75,458mi
Annual Mileage
806mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
41yrs

The Austin Montego Hl 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 body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Austin Montego Hl.

Austin Montego Hl Number Plates

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

Austin Montego Hl MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

60%
1988
75.2%
1987
77.6%
1986
72.3%
1985

Austin Montego Hl Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 52
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 21
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 19
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 17
constant velocity joint gaiter split 13
Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 12
Headlamp aim too low 11
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 11
Brake pipe excessively corroded 11
Steering rack gaiter split 10

Austin Montego Hl Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
333 mi/yr
Typical
806 mi/yr
Average
1,426 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,841 mi/yr

Austin Montego Hl MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1988 70 60.0% 59,525 70,481 98,992
1987 117 75.2% 56,127 84,037 105,423
1986 152 77.6% 46,885 74,652 81,316
1985 112 72.3% 62,246 75,582 104,909

How Long Does a Austin Montego Hl Last?

Based on 107 Austin Montego Hl vehicles on UK roads.

Average
22.0 years
Median
20.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
41 years

Austin Montego Hl Mileage Distribution

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

Median
75,458 mi
75th Percentile
97,674 mi
95th Percentile
144,993 mi
Max Recorded
247,743 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Austin Montego Hl

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

Best year
1986

77.6% MOT pass rate from 152 tests

Year to avoid
1988

60.0% MOT pass rate from 70 tests

The best year to buy a used Austin Montego Hl is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.6% across 152 tests. The 1988 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Austin Montego Hl Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Austin Montego Hl THIS CAR 72.3% 484 75,458 mi 41 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
Mazda MX-5 R-sport 94.2% 448 16,138 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 Montego Hl outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Austin Montego Hl?

The Austin Montego Hl has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.3% across 484 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Austin Montego Hl are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (52 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (21), and body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (19). 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 Montego Hl owner drives around 806 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 Montego Hl models stay on UK roads for around 41 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 Montego Hl — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Austin Montego Hl reliable?
Based on 484 MOT tests, the Austin Montego Hl has a 72.3% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Austin Montego Hl?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, and body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Austin Montego Hl do per year?
The typical Austin Montego Hl does around 806 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Austin Montego Hl last?
Most Austin Montego Hl models stay on UK roads for around 41 years based on our analysis of 107 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Austin Montego Hl?
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 Montego Hl?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Austin Montego Hl is 1986 with a 77.6% pass rate across 152 tests.