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Bsa A 10 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Bsa A 10 car check

Is the Bsa A 10 reliable? We analysed 553 real MOT tests across 115 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 553 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
90.8%
Typical Mileage
8,384mi
Annual Mileage
268mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
67yrs

The Bsa A 10 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include steering headbearing has excessive free play, throttle operating incorrectly and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bsa A 10.

Bsa A 10 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Bsa A 10. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Bsa A 10 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Bsa A 10 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

95.5%
1961
95.2%
1960
89.1%
1959

Bsa A 10 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Bsa A 10 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Steering headbearing has excessive free play 3
Throttle operating incorrectly 3
Roller brake test The less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. 3
Brake locking device insecure 2
Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 2
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 2
Headlamp dipped beam affected by the operation of another lamp 1
Brake back plate(s) securing bolt(s) loose 1
Brake component defective due to a deliberate modification which significantly reduces the original strength 1
Brake lever attachment screws loose 1

Bsa A 10 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Bsa A 10 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
85 mi/yr
Typical
268 mi/yr
Average
779 mi/yr
Heavy usage
647 mi/yr

Bsa A 10 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bsa A 10 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1961 110 95.5% 5,694 9,946 27,990
1960 62 95.2% 7,750 13,728 28,700
1959 55 89.1% 8,482 15,570 33,709

How Long Does a Bsa A 10 Last?

Based on 115 Bsa A 10 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
44.8 years
Median
52.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
67 years

Bsa A 10 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Bsa A 10 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
8,384 mi
75th Percentile
28,716 mi
95th Percentile
69,156 mi
Max Recorded
479,580 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Bsa A 10

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

Best year
1961

95.5% MOT pass rate from 110 tests

Year to avoid
1959

89.1% MOT pass rate from 55 tests

The best year to buy a used Bsa A 10 is 1961, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.5% across 110 tests. The 1959 model year has the lowest pass rate at 89.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Bsa A 10 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Bsa A 10 THIS CAR 90.8% 553 8,384 mi 67 yrs
Bsa A10 92.2% 10,105 12,338 mi 74 yrs
Bsa Bantam 89.9% 7,723 13,212 mi 77 yrs
Bsa C15 90.2% 6,096 14,541 mi 67 yrs
Opel Not Stated 69% 442 121,363 mi — yrs

Compared to the Bsa A10 (92.2% pass rate) and the Bsa Bantam (89.9% pass rate), the Bsa A 10 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Bsa A 10?

The Bsa A 10 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.8% across 553 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 Bsa A 10 are steering headbearing has excessive free play (3 recorded failures), throttle operating incorrectly (3), and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%. (3). 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 Bsa A 10 owner drives around 268 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 Bsa A 10 models stay on UK roads for around 67 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.

Bsa A 10 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bsa A 10 reliable?
Based on 553 MOT tests, the Bsa A 10 has a 90.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Bsa A 10?
The most common MOT failures are steering headbearing has excessive free play, throttle operating incorrectly, and roller brake test the less effective brake control does not achieve an efficiency of 25%.. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Bsa A 10 do per year?
The typical Bsa A 10 does around 268 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Bsa A 10 last?
Most Bsa A 10 models stay on UK roads for around 67 years based on our analysis of 115 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Bsa A 10?
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 Bsa A 10?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Bsa A 10 is 1961 with a 95.5% pass rate across 110 tests.