MOT History from tests of petrol MG As year 1959

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

mot history

Pass percent:83.02%

(The average a petrol MG A year 1959 passes without issue)

Based on:2,156 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Headlamp aim out of alignment	51
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	50
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	31
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	22
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	21
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	19
Registration plate lamp issues	18
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	18
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	17
Rear brake binding	14
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	13
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	12
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	12
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	10
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	10
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	9
Rear brake application uneven	9
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	9
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	9
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	9
Indicator switch faulty \|1.4.A.1\|	8
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	8
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	8
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	7
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	7
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	7
Front brake application uneven	6
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	6
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	6
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	6
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	6
Parking brake lever defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated \|3.1.3c\|	5
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	5
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	5
Indicator tell tale inoperative \|1.4.A.2a\|	5
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	5
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	5
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	4
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	4
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4
Brake hose has insufficient room to move	4
Fuel tank leaking \|7.2.3\|	4
Brake hose damaged	4
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	4
Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	4
Dipswitch operation does not deflect all main beam headlamps to make them dipped beams \|1.7.4b\|	3
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	3
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	3
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	3
Headlamp aim not tested \|1.8.A.1c\|	3
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	3
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3
Nearside Front An item not tested \|Manual\|	3
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Nearside Front Wheel insecure \|4.2.A.1c\|	3
Offside Rear Wheel insecure \|4.2.A.1c\|	3
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1a\|	3
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Steering column top bearing excessively worn \|2.1.2c\|	3
Nearside Rear Wheel insecure \|4.2.A.1c\|	3
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	3
Registration plate issues	3
Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.1.3 \|g\| \|ii\|\|	2
Parking \|secondary brake\| on a single line braking system imbalanced across an axle Axle 1 \|1.3.1 \|b\| \|i\|\|	2
Fuel system component insecure \|7.2.1\|	2
Nearside Rear Parking \|secondary brake\| on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel \|1.3.1 \|a\| \|ii\|\|	2
Nearside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel \|1.2.1 \|a\| \|ii\|\|	2
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	2
Nearside Rear Leaf spring has excessive wear in a shackle pin and/or bush \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Offside Rear Leaf spring has excessive wear in a shackle pin and/or bush \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Nearside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering \|2.5.A.3a\|	2
Fuel hose leaking \|7.2.3\|	2
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Rear Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	2
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	2
Nearside Rear Leaf spring has a deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Offside Rear Leaf spring has a deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	2
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Offside Rear Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	2
Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is broken \|3.1.5\|	2
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	2
Horn control missing \|1.6.1\|	2
Offside Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view \|8.2.1c\|	2
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	2
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	2
Offside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Brake pipe excessively corroded	2
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	2
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	2
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	2
Rear Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	2
Offside Front Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Nearside Rear Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Offside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	2
Parking brake efficiency below requirements \|1.4.2 \|a\| \|i\|\|	2
Nearside Front Wheel fitment excessively worn between the wheel and hub spigot mounting \|4.2.B.5\|	2
Service brake is causing the vehicle to swerve to the nearside \|3.7.C.2\|	2
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	2
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	2
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	2
Steering rack insecure \|2.2.B.1a\|	2
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	2
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	2
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	2
Windscreen washer not working	2
Offside Rear Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))	2
Nearside Rear Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))	2

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
Headlamp aim out of alignment	51
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	50
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	31
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	22
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	21
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	19
Registration plate lamp issues	18
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	18
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	17
Rear brake binding	14
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	13
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	12
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	12
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	10
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	10
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	9
Rear brake application uneven	9
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	9
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	9
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	9
Indicator switch faulty \|1.4.A.1\|	8
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	8
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	8
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	7
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	7
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	7
Front brake application uneven	6
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	6
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	6
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	6
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	6
Parking brake lever defective so that it cannot be satisfactorily operated \|3.1.3c\|	5
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	5
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	5
Indicator tell tale inoperative \|1.4.A.2a\|	5
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	5
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	5
Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released	4
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	4
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	4
Brake hose has insufficient room to move	4
Fuel tank leaking \|7.2.3\|	4
Brake hose damaged	4
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	4
Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	4
Dipswitch operation does not deflect all main beam headlamps to make them dipped beams \|1.7.4b\|	3
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	3
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	3
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	3
Headlamp aim not tested \|1.8.A.1c\|	3
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3
Brake pedal spongy \|3.3.B.1b\|	3
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	3
Nearside Front An item not tested \|Manual\|	3
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Nearside Front Wheel insecure \|4.2.A.1c\|	3
Offside Rear Wheel insecure \|4.2.A.1c\|	3
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1a\|	3
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	3
Steering column top bearing excessively worn \|2.1.2c\|	3
Nearside Rear Wheel insecure \|4.2.A.1c\|	3
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	3
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	3
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	3
Registration plate issues	3
Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.1.3 \|g\| \|ii\|\|	2
Parking \|secondary brake\| on a single line braking system imbalanced across an axle Axle 1 \|1.3.1 \|b\| \|i\|\|	2
Fuel system component insecure \|7.2.1\|	2
Nearside Rear Parking \|secondary brake\| on a single line braking system has no recorded effort at a wheel \|1.3.1 \|a\| \|ii\|\|	2
Nearside Rear Service brake has no recorded effort at a wheel \|1.2.1 \|a\| \|ii\|\|	2
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	2
Nearside Rear Leaf spring has excessive wear in a shackle pin and/or bush \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Offside Rear Leaf spring has excessive wear in a shackle pin and/or bush \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Nearside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering \|2.5.A.3a\|	2
Fuel hose leaking \|7.2.3\|	2
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	2
Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Rear Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	2
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	2
Nearside Rear Leaf spring has a deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Offside Rear Leaf spring has a deteriorated shackle pin rubber bush resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.B.2\|	2
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	2
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Offside Rear Hydraulic brake cylinder leaking hydraulic fluid \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	2
Parking brake lever ratchet mechanism is broken \|3.1.5\|	2
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	2
Horn control missing \|1.6.1\|	2
Offside Windscreen wiper not operating over a large enough area to give an adequate view \|8.2.1c\|	2
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	2
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	2
Offside Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Brake pipe excessively corroded	2
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	2
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	2
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	2
Rear Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	2
Offside Front Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Nearside Rear Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Offside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	2
Parking brake efficiency below requirements \|1.4.2 \|a\| \|i\|\|	2
Nearside Front Wheel fitment excessively worn between the wheel and hub spigot mounting \|4.2.B.5\|	2
Service brake is causing the vehicle to swerve to the nearside \|3.7.C.2\|	2
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	2
Nearside Rear wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.6.1\|	2
Fuel cap/sealing device does not fasten securely maintaining the sealing arrangement \|7.2.4b\|	2
Steering rack insecure \|2.2.B.1a\|	2
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	2
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	2
Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	2
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	2
Nearside Front brake disc excessively pitted \|3.5.1h\|	2
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	2
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	2
Parking brake efficiency below requirements (1.4.2 (a) (i))	2
Windscreen washer not working	2
Offside Rear Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))	2
Nearside Rear Service brake lagging in operation (1.2.1 (d))	2

MOT History from tests of petrol MG As year 1959

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