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Morgan Plus 8 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Morgan Plus 8 car check

Is the Morgan Plus 8 reliable? We analysed 22,733 real MOT tests across 1,592 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 22,733 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
85.5%
Typical Mileage
26,389mi
Annual Mileage
618mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
57yrs

The Morgan Plus 8 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake binding, stop lamp not working and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Morgan Plus 8.

Morgan Plus 8 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Morgan Plus 8. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Morgan Plus 8 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Morgan Plus 8 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

92.8%
2018
89.5%
2016
87.7%
2015
92.6%
2013
88.5%
2012
87.1%
2004
82.4%
2003
87.3%
2002
85.5%
2001
86.5%
2000
86.4%
1999
88.1%
1998
85.3%
1997
85.8%
1996
87.1%
1995
85.9%
1994
84.6%
1993
83.8%
1992
85.2%
1991
86.7%
1990

Morgan Plus 8 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Morgan Plus 8 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

brake binding 184
Stop lamp not working 170
position lamp(s) not working 158
fog lamp not working 144
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 131
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 125
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 102
Steering rack gaiter split 100
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 98
Headlamp aim too low 81

Morgan Plus 8 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Morgan Plus 8 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
224 mi/yr
Typical
618 mi/yr
Average
1,404 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,465 mi/yr

Morgan Plus 8 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Morgan Plus 8 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2018 83 92.8% 1,732 5,183 10,963
2016 57 89.5% 6,818 12,006 19,913
2015 65 87.7% 2,792 13,201 23,271
2013 121 92.6% 8,901 11,756 20,668
2012 87 88.5% 3,113 6,125 11,666
2004 574 87.1% 6,703 12,130 23,322
2003 689 82.4% 8,115 17,875 32,346
2002 1,003 87.3% 9,518 17,450 27,663
2001 1,652 85.5% 11,816 21,013 35,226
2000 1,804 86.5% 10,686 21,287 33,693
1999 1,279 86.4% 10,383 18,798 30,286
1998 1,370 88.1% 12,072 18,408 32,322
1997 1,367 85.3% 9,831 19,760 30,102
1996 921 85.8% 12,174 20,783 32,339
1995 769 87.1% 12,495 21,527 42,134
1994 721 85.9% 13,373 23,468 36,264
1993 715 84.6% 19,614 33,566 48,942
1992 754 83.8% 21,905 28,360 41,541
1991 751 85.2% 20,434 32,623 50,097
1990 646 86.7% 19,937 33,337 51,985

How Long Does a Morgan Plus 8 Last?

Based on 1,592 Morgan Plus 8 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
27.8 years
Median
27.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
57 years

Morgan Plus 8 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Morgan Plus 8 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
26,389 mi
75th Percentile
45,570 mi
95th Percentile
80,060 mi
Max Recorded
862,658 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Morgan Plus 8

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

Best year
2018

92.8% MOT pass rate from 83 tests

Year to avoid
1984

79.7% MOT pass rate from 590 tests

The best year to buy a used Morgan Plus 8 is 2018, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.8% across 83 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Morgan Plus 8 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Morgan Plus 8 THIS CAR 85.5% 22,733 26,389 mi 57 yrs
Morgan 4/4 84.6% 54,616 25,048 mi 58 yrs
Morgan Plus 4 85.6% 23,769 17,689 mi 72 yrs
Morgan Roadster 87.3% 9,560 14,710 mi 22 yrs
Harley Davidson Fxdl 91% 8,457 14,048 mi 28 yrs

Compared to the Morgan 4/4 (84.6% pass rate) and the Morgan Plus 4 (85.6% pass rate), the Morgan Plus 8 sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Morgan Plus 8?

The Morgan Plus 8 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.5% across 22,733 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 Morgan Plus 8 are brake binding (184 recorded failures), stop lamp not working (170), and position lamp(s) not working (158). 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 Morgan Plus 8 owner drives around 618 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 Morgan Plus 8 models stay on UK roads for around 57 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.

Morgan Plus 8 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Morgan Plus 8 reliable?
Based on 22,733 MOT tests, the Morgan Plus 8 has a 85.5% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Morgan Plus 8?
The most common MOT failures are brake binding, stop lamp not working, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Morgan Plus 8 do per year?
The typical Morgan Plus 8 does around 618 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Morgan Plus 8 last?
Most Morgan Plus 8 models stay on UK roads for around 57 years based on our analysis of 1,592 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Morgan Plus 8?
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 Morgan Plus 8?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Morgan Plus 8 is 2018 with a 92.8% pass rate across 83 tests.