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Morris Oxford Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Morris Oxford car check

Is the Morris Oxford reliable? We analysed 6,890 real MOT tests across 1,129 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 6,890 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.8%
Typical Mileage
45,436mi
Annual Mileage
343mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
103yrs

The Morris Oxford is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brakes imbalanced across an axle and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Morris Oxford.

Morris Oxford Number Plates

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

Morris Oxford MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

83.9%
1979
79.5%
1971
79.3%
1970
79.4%
1969
80.6%
1968
78.5%
1967
78.7%
1966
83.3%
1965
81.2%
1964
78.6%
1963
82.8%
1962
84.6%
1961
75.7%
1960
77.6%
1959
77.7%
1958
74.1%
1957
86.7%
1956
82.5%
1955
78.4%
1954
82.3%
1953

Morris Oxford Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 200
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 200
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 165
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 151
brake binding 146
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 110
brake recording little or no effort 101
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 91
brake application uneven 90
Stop lamp not working 88

Morris Oxford Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
106 mi/yr
Typical
343 mi/yr
Average
1,419 mi/yr
Heavy usage
883 mi/yr

Morris Oxford MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1979 56 83.9% 2,601 5,544 9,880
1971 381 79.5% 31,050 55,515 76,259
1970 551 79.3% 25,270 50,067 71,812
1969 408 79.4% 21,004 47,863 69,498
1968 376 80.6% 33,766 59,006 78,576
1967 340 78.5% 30,571 53,377 74,895
1966 310 78.7% 30,716 47,484 60,863
1965 168 83.3% 45,669 56,238 64,182
1964 287 81.2% 36,173 63,190 75,248
1963 168 78.6% 45,865 67,540 82,766
1962 186 82.8% 36,906 50,956 72,208
1961 52 84.6% 64,752 71,108 75,706
1960 206 75.7% 18,346 44,034 64,289
1959 156 77.6% 7,278 29,692 58,819
1958 193 77.7% 18,115 47,233 69,394
1957 166 74.1% 32,208 67,570 78,016
1956 150 86.7% 15,291 32,796 56,356
1955 183 82.5% 18,746 47,897 79,136
1954 222 78.4% 24,512 48,021 75,598
1953 648 82.3% 34,975 47,110 68,818

How Long Does a Morris Oxford Last?

Based on 1,129 Morris Oxford vehicles on UK roads.

Average
55.3 years
Median
54.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
103 years

Morris Oxford Mileage Distribution

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

Median
45,436 mi
75th Percentile
69,557 mi
95th Percentile
92,273 mi
Max Recorded
844,796 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Morris Oxford

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

Best year
1928

97.3% MOT pass rate from 75 tests

Year to avoid
1957

74.1% MOT pass rate from 166 tests

The best year to buy a used Morris Oxford is 1928, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 97.3% across 75 tests. The 1957 model year has the lowest pass rate at 74.1% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Morris Oxford Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Morris Oxford THIS CAR 82.8% 6,890 45,436 mi 103 yrs
Morris Minor 1000 71.9% 135,442 47,754 mi 69 yrs
Morris Minor 73.6% 72,367 45,592 mi 76 yrs
Morris Minor Traveller 72.3% 11,365 47,651 mi 72 yrs
Honda Cb 125T 74.4% 5,203 23,827 mi 47 yrs

Compared to the Morris Minor 1000 (71.9% pass rate) and the Morris Minor (73.6% pass rate), the Morris Oxford outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Morris Oxford?

The Morris Oxford has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.8% across 6,890 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 Morris Oxford are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (200 recorded failures), brakes imbalanced across an axle (200), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (165). 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 Morris Oxford owner drives around 343 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 Morris Oxford models stay on UK roads for around 103 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.

Morris Oxford — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Morris Oxford reliable?
Based on 6,890 MOT tests, the Morris Oxford has a 82.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Morris Oxford?
The most common MOT failures are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, brakes imbalanced across an axle, and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Morris Oxford do per year?
The typical Morris Oxford does around 343 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Morris Oxford last?
Most Morris Oxford models stay on UK roads for around 103 years based on our analysis of 1,129 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Morris Oxford?
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 Morris Oxford?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Morris Oxford is 1928 with a 97.3% pass rate across 75 tests.