Wolseley 1500 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Wolseley 1500 car check
Is the Wolseley 1500 reliable? We analysed 4,191 real MOT tests across 645 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Wolseley 1500? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Wolseley 1500 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 Wolseley 1500.
Wolseley 1500 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Wolseley 1500. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Wolseley 1500 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Wolseley 1500 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Wolseley 1500 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Wolseley 1500 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Wolseley 1500 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Wolseley 1500 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Wolseley 1500 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Wolseley 1500 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 75 | 81.3% | 33,414 | 51,858 | 62,963 |
| 1964 | 632 | 79.7% | 35,362 | 57,360 | 77,342 |
| 1963 | 636 | 78.3% | 38,396 | 56,098 | 70,025 |
| 1962 | 502 | 76.9% | 42,556 | 60,119 | 76,058 |
| 1961 | 662 | 79.0% | 43,187 | 60,058 | 78,504 |
| 1960 | 590 | 77.6% | 34,744 | 64,445 | 76,778 |
| 1959 | 172 | 79.1% | 23,203 | 69,728 | 81,539 |
| 1958 | 414 | 80.2% | 22,921 | 47,679 | 72,289 |
| 1957 | 353 | 76.8% | 27,326 | 42,367 | 67,346 |
How Long Does a Wolseley 1500 Last?
Based on 645 Wolseley 1500 vehicles on UK roads.
Wolseley 1500 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Wolseley 1500 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 Wolseley 1500
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
81.3% MOT pass rate from 75 tests
76.8% MOT pass rate from 353 tests
The best year to buy a used Wolseley 1500 is 1965, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.3% across 75 tests. The 1957 model year has the lowest pass rate at 76.8% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Wolseley 1500 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolseley 1500 THIS CAR | 78.8% | 4,191 | 56,740 mi | 69 yrs |
| Wolseley Hornet | 80.5% | 3,769 | 49,820 mi | 94 yrs |
| Wolseley 16/60 | 81.7% | 2,206 | 51,238 mi | 63 yrs |
| Wolseley 6/110 | 84.5% | 800 | 63,805 mi | 62 yrs |
| Talbot Motorhome | 64% | 3,205 | 73,822 mi | 42 yrs |
Compared to the Wolseley Hornet (80.5% pass rate) and the Wolseley 16/60 (81.7% pass rate), the Wolseley 1500 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Wolseley 1500 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 Wolseley 1500Should you buy a used Wolseley 1500?
The Wolseley 1500 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.8% across 4,191 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 Wolseley 1500 are suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (275 recorded failures), brakes imbalanced across an axle (178), and windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (147). 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 Wolseley 1500 owner drives around 360 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 Wolseley 1500 models stay on UK roads for around 69 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.