Bsa A50 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Bsa A50 car check
Is the Bsa A50 reliable? We analysed 1,353 real MOT tests across 216 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Bsa A50? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Bsa A50 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort, stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Bsa A50.
Bsa A50 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Bsa A50. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Bsa A50 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Bsa A50 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Bsa A50 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Bsa A50 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Bsa A50 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Bsa A50 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Bsa A50 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Bsa A50 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 92 | 91.3% | 4,172 | 7,000 | 26,018 |
| 1969 | 103 | 91.3% | 3,831 | 9,706 | 18,340 |
| 1968 | 70 | 92.9% | 2,204 | 5,883 | 27,919 |
| 1967 | 91 | 95.6% | 7,894 | 13,182 | 27,999 |
| 1966 | 95 | 89.5% | 3,557 | 10,700 | 31,968 |
| 1965 | 138 | 89.1% | 2,687 | 14,434 | 33,503 |
| 1964 | 165 | 92.7% | 9,024 | 13,431 | 34,232 |
| 1963 | 135 | 89.6% | 15,176 | 41,636 | 61,651 |
| 1962 | 116 | 92.2% | 7,113 | 30,067 | 47,010 |
How Long Does a Bsa A50 Last?
Based on 216 Bsa A50 vehicles on UK roads.
Bsa A50 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Bsa A50 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 Bsa A50
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
95.6% MOT pass rate from 91 tests
89.1% MOT pass rate from 138 tests
The best year to buy a used Bsa A50 is 1967, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 95.6% across 91 tests. The 1965 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 A50 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bsa A50 THIS CAR | 90.9% | 1,353 | 13,154 mi | 64 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 |
| Jaguar Xe R-sport D Auto | 91.7% | 1,301 | 63,603 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Bsa A10 (92.2% pass rate) and the Bsa Bantam (89.9% pass rate), the Bsa A50 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Bsa A50 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 Bsa A50Should you buy a used Bsa A50?
The Bsa A50 has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.9% across 1,353 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 A50 are roller brake test indicates excessive fluctuation of brake effort (5 recorded failures), stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies (5), and shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil (4). 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 A50 owner drives around 236 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 A50 models stay on UK roads for around 64 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.