MOT History from tests of petrol MG Bs year 1978

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

mot history

Pass percent:66.83%

(The average a petrol MG B year 1978 passes without issue)

Based on:11,322 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive \|7.3.B.1a\|	754
Headlamp aim out of alignment	745
Registration plate lamp issues	397
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive \|7.3.B.1b\|	392
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	342
Rear brake binding	297
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	223
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	194
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	190
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	182
Brake pipe excessively corroded	144
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	110
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	107
Rear brake application uneven	105
Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	99
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	96
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	94
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	93
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	93
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	91
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	91
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	87
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	80
Registration plate issues	80
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	79
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	67
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on \|1.4.B.1f\|	65
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	62
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off \|1.4.B.1f\|	61
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	60
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	60
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	60
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	60
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	60
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	59
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	59
Windscreen washer not working	57
Direction indicators flashing less than 60 times a minute \|1.4.A.2g\|	52
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	52
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	51
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))	51
Hazard warning lamps inoperative \|1.4.B.1b\|	50
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	48
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	47
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive \|8.2.1.2 \|b\|\|	43
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	43
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	43
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	41
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	40
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	39
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	38
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	38
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	36
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	36
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	35
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	34
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	33
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	33
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	32
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	31
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	30
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	30
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	30
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	29
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	29
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	27
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	27
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	27
Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly \|1.4.B.1e\|	26
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	26
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	26
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	25
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	25
Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	25
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	25
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	24
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	23
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	23
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	23
Front brake application uneven	23
Emissions not tested \|7.0\|	22
Offside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	21
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	21
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	21
Headlamp switch faulty \|1.7.1\|	21
Offside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering \|2.5.A.3a\|	20
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	20
Nearside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	19
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	19
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	19
Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute \|1.4.A.2g\|	19
Fuel tank leaking \|7.2.3\|	19
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	19
Offside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	18
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	18
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	18
Offside Front Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	18
Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	18
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))	18
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	17
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	17
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	17
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	17
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	17
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	16
Steering wheel retaining device insecure \|2.1.6\|	16
Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	16
Offside Front Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	16
Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	16
Windscreen has damage	16
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive \|8.2.1.2 \|b\|\|	16
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	16
Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	15
Fuel hose leaking \|7.2.3\|	15
Offside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	15
Nearside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering \|2.5.A.3a\|	15
Nearside Rear Anti-roll bar rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	15
Rear Brake hose leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	15
Main beam `tell-tale` not working \|1.7.4c\|	15
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	15
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	15
Indicator switch faulty \|1.4.A.1\|	14
Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel \|steering rack fitted\| \|2.2.A.1b\|	14
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	14
Nearside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	14
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	14
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	14
Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	14
Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	13
Brake hydraulic reservoir fluid level below minimum level \|3.6.G.1b\|	13
Position lamp switch faulty \|1.1.A.1\|	13
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	13
Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	13
Nearside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	13
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	13
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	13
Rear Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	13
Offside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	13
Offside Seat belt retracting mechanism defective \|5.2.5b\|	13
Offside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	13
Offside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	13
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	12
Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	12
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	12
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	12
Nearside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	12
Offside Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	12
Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	12
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.C.1b\|	12
Offside Rear Anti-roll bar has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	12
Horn not loud enough to be heard by another road user \|1.6.2b\|	12
Offside Windscreen wiper blade deteriorated \|8.2.2\|	12
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	12

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.

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MOT History from tests of petrol MG Bs year 1978

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