MOT History from tests of petrol MG Bs year 1979

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:65.58%

(The average a petrol MG B year 1979 passes without issue)

Based on:7,173 MOT Tests

Most common failures	No# failures
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive \|7.3.B.1a\|	510
Headlamp aim out of alignment	421
Rear brake binding	244
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively	235
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive \|7.3.B.1b\|	235
Registration plate lamp issues	234
Brakes imbalanced across an axle	162
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	141
Rear parking brake recording little or no effort	112
Brake pipe excessively corroded	105
Offside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	101
Horn not working \|1.6.2a\|	96
Nearside Rear Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	95
Rear brake application uneven	87
Registration plate issues	74
Offside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	72
Nearside Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	71
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel \|3.1.6b\|	61
Service brake: efficiency below requirements \|3.7.B.7\|	60
Offside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	59
Offside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	56
Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	56
Nearside Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	55
Brake hose excessively deteriorated	54
Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	54
Hazard warning switch faulty \|1.4.B.1d\|	53
Offside Headlamp not working on dipped beam \|1.7.5a\|	49
Nearside Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	46
Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	43
Offside Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	43
Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	42
All position lamps not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	41
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	39
Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	39
Windscreen washer not working	38
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive \|8.2.1.2 \|b\|\|	38
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition on \|1.4.B.1f\|	37
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))	37
Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	36
Fuel system component leaking \|7.2.3\|	35
Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	34
Rear Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	34
Nearside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	34
Battery insecure \|1.9.1\|	33
Offside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	31
Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	29
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	28
Offside Front Steering rack gaiter split \|2.2.D.2d\|	28
Hazard warning lamps not flashing in phase, with ignition off \|1.4.B.1f\|	27
Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded \|2.4.A.3\|	27
Rear Mechanical brake component has restricted free movement	26
Offside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	25
Offside rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	25
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive (8.2.1.2 (b))	25
Direction indicators flashing less than 60 times a minute \|1.4.A.2g\|	24
Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	23
Centre Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	23
Offside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering \|2.5.A.3a\|	23
Offside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	22
Hazard warning lamps inoperative \|1.4.B.1b\|	22
Offside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	22
Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	21
Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	20
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	20
Nearside Front 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\|	19
Exhaust system not adequately supported \|7.1.1\|	19
Front brake application uneven	18
Nearside Front Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	18
Nearside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	18
Nearside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	18
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	17
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	17
Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	17
Offside Front Front position lamp\|s\| not working \|1.1.A.3b\|	17
Offside Rear position lamp\|s\| excessively deteriorated so that it is not visible from a reasonable distance \|1.1.A.3d\|	16
Exhaust emissions hydrocarbon content excessive \|8.2.1.2 \|b\|\|	16
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	16
Nearside Rear rear brake recording little or no effort \|3.7.B.5a\|	16
Offside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	15
Windscreen wiper blade insecure	15
Offside Obligatory mirror missing \|8.1.1\|	15
Nearside Front Axle king pin has excessive play in pin and/or bush adversely affecting the steering \|2.5.A.3a\|	14
Brake performance not tested \|3.7.A.1\|	14
Offside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	14
Stop lamp not working \|1.2.1b\|	14
Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	14
Nearside Front Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak \|2.7.3\|	14
Nearside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	13
Hazard warning tell tale not working correctly \|1.4.B.1e\|	13
Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	13
Nearside Front Headlamp not working on main beam \|1.7.5a\|	13
Driver`s seat insecure \|6.2.A.1\|	13
Offside Rear wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.6.2\|	13
Nearside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	13
Nearside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	13
Offside Front Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	13
Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect \|2.7.5\|	12
Offside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	12
Nearside Rear Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	12
Offside Front wheel bearing has excessive play \|2.5.A.3c\|	11
Offside Front Brake pipe inadequately clipped \|3.6.B.1\|	11
Rear Brake hose bulging under pressure \|3.6.B.3\|	11
Offside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	11
Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	11
Nearside Rear Direction indicator not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	11
Nearside Rear Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	11
Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	11
Headlamp switch faulty \|1.7.1\|	11
Offside Front Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion which adversely affects braking or steering \|6.1.A.1\|	11
rear brakes release unevenly \|3.7.B.4\|	10
Exhaust engine idle speed too high \|7.3.A.2a\|	10
Main beam `tell-tale` not working \|1.7.4c\|	10
Direction indicators flashing more than 120 times a minute \|1.4.A.2g\|	10
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	10
Nearside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	9
Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	9
Rear Brake hose leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	9
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	9
Offside Headlamp not in good working order adversely affecting beam image \|1.2.4a\|	9
Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	9
Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	9
Nearside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	9
Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush \|2.4.G.2\|	9
Front Windscreen wiper not operating automatically when switched on \|8.2.1b\|	9
Windscreen has damage	9
Indicator switch faulty \|1.4.A.1\|	9
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))	9
Offside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	8
Nearside Rear Braking system leaking \|3.6.A.1\|	8
Centre Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases \|7.1.2\|	8
Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play \|2.2.B.1f\|	8
Fuel pipe leaking \|7.2.3\|	8
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement \|2.4.G.2\|	8
Offside Front Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded \|5.2.6\|	8
Nearside Front Direction indicators not working \|1.4.A.2c\|	8
Nearside Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	8
Front passenger door cannot be opened from inside the vehicle \|6.2.B.1b\|	8
Nearside Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings \|6.1.B.2\|	8
Offside Front front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	8
Nearside front brake binding \|3.7.B.1\|	8
Nearside Direction indicators flashing less than 60 times a minute \|1.4.A.2g\|	8
All direction indicators not working \|4.4.1 \|a\| \|ii\|\|	8
Nearside Front wheel bearing rough when rotated \|2.5.A.2\|	8
Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover excessively deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt \|2.2.C.1c\|	8

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 1979

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