Wolseley Hornet Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Wolseley Hornet car check
Is the Wolseley Hornet reliable? We analysed 3,769 real MOT tests across 562 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Wolseley Hornet? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Wolseley Hornet is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, brake recording little or no effort and subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Wolseley Hornet.
Wolseley Hornet Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Wolseley Hornet. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Wolseley Hornet MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Wolseley Hornet to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Wolseley Hornet Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Wolseley Hornet fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Wolseley Hornet Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Wolseley Hornet owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Wolseley Hornet MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Wolseley Hornet year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 395 | 80.5% | 35,936 | 64,997 | 77,998 |
| 1968 | 697 | 78.5% | 32,888 | 60,708 | 78,269 |
| 1967 | 718 | 75.9% | 28,917 | 58,300 | 74,945 |
| 1966 | 342 | 77.8% | 39,794 | 59,668 | 77,487 |
| 1965 | 361 | 78.9% | 17,239 | 40,871 | 75,400 |
| 1964 | 290 | 78.6% | 18,760 | 49,830 | 68,640 |
| 1963 | 262 | 80.5% | 31,842 | 54,640 | 72,090 |
| 1934 | 121 | 92.6% | 2,457 | 6,050 | 9,225 |
| 1933 | 139 | 92.8% | 1,774 | 6,192 | 7,796 |
| 1932 | 142 | 91.5% | 2,658 | 5,171 | 46,166 |
How Long Does a Wolseley Hornet Last?
Based on 562 Wolseley Hornet vehicles on UK roads.
Wolseley Hornet Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Wolseley Hornet 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 Hornet
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.8% MOT pass rate from 139 tests
75.9% MOT pass rate from 718 tests
The best year to buy a used Wolseley Hornet is 1933, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.8% across 139 tests. The 1967 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Wolseley Hornet Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolseley Hornet THIS CAR | 80.5% | 3,769 | 49,820 mi | 94 yrs |
| Wolseley 1500 | 78.8% | 4,191 | 56,740 mi | 69 yrs |
| Wolseley 16/60 | 81.7% | 2,206 | 51,238 mi | 63 yrs |
| Wolseley 6/110 | 84.5% | 800 | 63,805 mi | 62 yrs |
| Ldv 400 Convoy Td SWB | 66.6% | 1,929 | 78,178 mi | 30 yrs |
Compared to the Wolseley 1500 (78.8% pass rate) and the Wolseley 16/60 (81.7% pass rate), the Wolseley Hornet sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
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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 HornetShould you buy a used Wolseley Hornet?
The Wolseley Hornet has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.5% across 3,769 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 Hornet are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (171 recorded failures), brake recording little or no effort (122), and subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (112). 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 Hornet owner drives around 243 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 Hornet models stay on UK roads for around 94 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.