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Wolseley 4/44 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Wolseley 4/44 car check

Is the Wolseley 4/44 reliable? We analysed 683 real MOT tests across 130 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 683 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
82.3%
Typical Mileage
54,866mi
Annual Mileage
267mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
73yrs

The Wolseley 4/44 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brakes imbalanced across an axle, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Wolseley 4/44.

Specifications

Wolseley 4/44 — specs & performance

Verified from DVLA & DVSA records

A snapshot of the engine, performance, dimensions, fuel economy and running costs for the Wolseley 4/44 — drawn from official DVLA vehicle records and the DVSA fuel-economy database.

1250cc
Engine

Engine & Performance

Engine size
1250cc
Fuel type
Petrol

Body & Dimensions

Body type
Car
Common colour
Black
Wheel plan
2 Axle Rigid Body

Fuel Economy

Fuel-economy data not held for this model.

Tax & Emissions

Emission class
Not Available
Sources: DVLA vehicle register. Specifications reflect a representative Wolseley 4/44 record and may vary by trim, year and option pack.

Wolseley 4/44 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Wolseley 4/44. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Wolseley 4/44 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Wolseley 4/44 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

80.7%
1956
83.5%
1955
81.6%
1954
79.6%
1953

Wolseley 4/44 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Wolseley 4/44 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Brakes imbalanced across an axle 26
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 26
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 19
brake binding 18
brake recording little or no effort 15
Headlamp not working on dipped beam 13
Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 11
brake application uneven 9
Steering rack gaiter split 8
Stop lamp not working 8

Wolseley 4/44 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Wolseley 4/44 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
77 mi/yr
Typical
267 mi/yr
Average
778 mi/yr
Heavy usage
754 mi/yr

Wolseley 4/44 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Wolseley 4/44 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1956 109 80.7% 29,583 53,711 65,101
1955 297 83.5% 25,497 62,205 79,950
1954 179 81.6% 40,738 49,114 67,446
1953 54 79.6% 41,351 57,804 64,156

How Long Does a Wolseley 4/44 Last?

Based on 130 Wolseley 4/44 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
54.9 years
Median
57.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
73 years

Wolseley 4/44 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Wolseley 4/44 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
54,866 mi
75th Percentile
70,686 mi
95th Percentile
89,412 mi
Max Recorded
100,084 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Wolseley 4/44

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

Best year
1955

83.5% MOT pass rate from 297 tests

Year to avoid
1953

79.6% MOT pass rate from 54 tests

The best year to buy a used Wolseley 4/44 is 1955, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 83.5% across 297 tests. The 1953 model year has the lowest pass rate at 79.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Wolseley 4/44 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Wolseley 4/44 THIS CAR 82.3% 683 54,866 mi 73 yrs
Wolseley 1500 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
Jcb Unknown 98.4% 793 1,146 mi — yrs

Compared to the Wolseley 1500 (78.8% pass rate) and the Wolseley Hornet (80.5% pass rate), the Wolseley 4/44 outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Wolseley 4/44?

The Wolseley 4/44 has an overall MOT pass rate of 82.3% across 683 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 4/44 are brakes imbalanced across an axle (26 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (26), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (19). 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 4/44 owner drives around 267 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 4/44 models stay on UK roads for around 73 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.

Wolseley 4/44 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Wolseley 4/44 reliable?
Based on 683 MOT tests, the Wolseley 4/44 has a 82.3% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Wolseley 4/44?
The most common MOT failures are brakes imbalanced across an axle, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Wolseley 4/44 do per year?
The typical Wolseley 4/44 does around 267 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Wolseley 4/44 last?
Most Wolseley 4/44 models stay on UK roads for around 73 years based on our analysis of 130 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Wolseley 4/44?
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 Wolseley 4/44?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Wolseley 4/44 is 1955 with a 83.5% pass rate across 297 tests.