MOT History from tests of petrol AUSTIN A40s year 1952

Review the list of common AUSTIN A40 failures below or to perform a specific mot history check on your AUSTIN then use our popular KnowYourCar service

mot history

Pass percent:83.71%

(The average a petrol AUSTIN A40 year 1952 passes without issue)

Based on:399 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	14
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	14
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	12
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	11
Registration plate lamp issues	10
Rear brake binding	10
Headlamp aim out of alignment	9
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	7
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	6
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	5
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	4
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1a\|	4
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	3
Steering system excessively tight \|2.2.D.1\|	3
Offside front brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	3
Front brake application uneven	3
Windscreen washer control missing \|8.2.1a\|	3
Rear brake application uneven	2
Offside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil \|3.5.1h\|	2
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	2
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	2
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	2
Offside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	2
Nearside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	2
Steering column top bearing excessively worn \|2.1.2c\|	2
Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm \|2.2.B.1b\|	2
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	2
Indicator tell tale inoperative \|1.4.A.2a\|	2
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	2
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	1
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	1
Offside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.3.3 (b))	1
Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))	1
Nearside Semaphore indicator arm not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	1
Offside Semaphore indicator arm not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	1
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	1
Brake master cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.G.1f\|	1
Nearside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Nearside Front Brake hose twisted \|found during steering lock to lock check\| \|2.2.D.2b\|	1
Nearside Rear Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	1
Offside Front Shock absorber insecure \|2.7.2b\|	1
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	1
Nearside brake drum contaminated by oil \|3.5.1h\|	1
Offside Drag link end ball pin shank loose \|2.2.B.1c\|	1
Nearside Inner Track rod end ball pin shank loose \|2.2.B.1c\|	1
Offside Inner Track rod end ball pin shank loose \|2.2.B.1c\|	1
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1
Nearside Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Horn not working (7.7 (a))	1
Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front Steering pivot point has excessive play \|2.2.B.1g\|	1
Nearside Rear front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Offside Rear front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	1
Nearside Inner Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Offside Inner Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Nearside Inner Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	1
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Nearside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Rear Suspension has inadequate clearance with the bump stop \|2.4.A.1a\|	1
Offside Rear Suspension has inadequate clearance with the bump stop \|2.4.A.1a\|	1
Nearside front brake juddering severely \|3.7.A.2b\|	1
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	1
Nearside Steering pivot point has excessive play \|2.2.B.1g\|	1
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	1
Direction indicators not in good working order \|function impaired\| \|1.5.A1b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	1
Nearside Rear wheel cylinder has restricted free movement \|3.5.1k\|	1
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Rear reflector missing \|1.5.1a\|	1
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1
Nearside Parking brake efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	1
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	1
Nearside Rear reflector missing \|1.5.1a\|	1
Offside Rear reflector missing \|1.5.1a\|	1
Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Offside Front Body insecure and dangerous to other road users \|6.1.B.1b\|	1
Offside rear brakes release unevenly \|3.7.B.4\|	1
Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Offside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Nearside Front rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1

We get to these numbers by trawling through over 1 billion MOT test results since 2004 and crunched the numbers. We remove anything to do with Tyres, as they are model independent and group together common non-model specific issues. We are trying to get to a picture of what models have what issues.

Please note: We take the data from the DVSA. This data is raw and can contain typos and spelling mistakes that garages may have entered while recording a MOT result. Specifically miss-match on names of models and makes. We are constantly cleaning the data so bear with the odd issue.

Got suggestions? We’re improving this section all the time. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.

Most common failures	No# failures
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	14
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	14
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	12
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	11
Registration plate lamp issues	10
Rear brake binding	10
Headlamp aim out of alignment	9
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	7
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	6
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	5
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	4
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1a\|	4
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	3
Steering system excessively tight \|2.2.D.1\|	3
Offside front brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	3
Front brake application uneven	3
Windscreen washer control missing \|8.2.1a\|	3
Rear brake application uneven	2
Offside Rear brake drum contaminated by oil \|3.5.1h\|	2
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	2
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	2
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	2
Offside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	2
Nearside Outer Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	2
Steering column top bearing excessively worn \|2.1.2c\|	2
Steering box has relative movement between sector shaft and the drop arm \|2.2.B.1b\|	2
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	2
Indicator tell tale inoperative \|1.4.A.2a\|	2
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	2
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	1
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	1
Offside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.3.3 (b))	1
Offside Rear Position lamp adversely affected by the operation of another lamp (4.2.3 (c))	1
Nearside Semaphore indicator arm not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	1
Offside Semaphore indicator arm not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))	1
Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value (1.4.2 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	1
Brake master cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.G.1f\|	1
Nearside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Offside Inner Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Nearside Front Brake hose twisted \|found during steering lock to lock check\| \|2.2.D.2b\|	1
Nearside Rear Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	1
Offside Front Shock absorber insecure \|2.7.2b\|	1
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	1
Nearside brake drum contaminated by oil \|3.5.1h\|	1
Offside Drag link end ball pin shank loose \|2.2.B.1c\|	1
Nearside Inner Track rod end ball pin shank loose \|2.2.B.1c\|	1
Offside Inner Track rod end ball pin shank loose \|2.2.B.1c\|	1
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1
Nearside Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Front Ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	1
Horn not working (7.7 (a))	1
Horn not working (7.7 (a) (ii))	1
Nearside Front Steering pivot point has excessive play \|2.2.B.1g\|	1
Nearside Rear front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Offside Rear front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	1
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	1
Nearside Inner Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Offside Inner Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Nearside Inner Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.A.1\|	1
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	1
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	1
Nearside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	1
Nearside Rear Suspension has inadequate clearance with the bump stop \|2.4.A.1a\|	1
Offside Rear Suspension has inadequate clearance with the bump stop \|2.4.A.1a\|	1
Nearside front brake juddering severely \|3.7.A.2b\|	1
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	1
Nearside Steering pivot point has excessive play \|2.2.B.1g\|	1
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	1
Direction indicators not in good working order \|function impaired\| \|1.5.A1b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp insecure \|1.7.3\|	1
Nearside Rear wheel cylinder has restricted free movement \|3.5.1k\|	1
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Rear reflector missing \|1.5.1a\|	1
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	1
Nearside Parking brake efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	1
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	1
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	1
Nearside Rear reflector missing \|1.5.1a\|	1
Offside Rear reflector missing \|1.5.1a\|	1
Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	1
Offside Front Body insecure and dangerous to other road users \|6.1.B.1b\|	1
Offside rear brakes release unevenly \|3.7.B.4\|	1
Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Offside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	1
Nearside Front rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	1
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	1

MOT History from tests of petrol AUSTIN A40s year 1952

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