Skip to main content

Mg B - 1971

122.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1971 is 132.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mg B, model year 1971. Sample size: 463 cars, 732 tests and 896 recorded faults.
0%
Less faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 463 cars

The MG B from 1971 has an overall defect rate of 122 defects per 100 vehicles, which is slightly better than the yearly average of 128 defects per 100 vehicles, showing a 4.6% improvement. Notably, the model performs particularly well in the 31,000 to 62,000 miles category, where it has a defect rate of 366, compared to the average of 398. However, it shows higher defect rates in the 0 to 31,000 miles segment at 313, marginally exceeding the average. Overall, while the MG B presents some common issues, such as tyre wear, it maintains a relatively competitive standing against its contemporaries.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 463 cars

Categories

Brakes
▲ 10.6% better
33.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 37.9 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
Steering
▲ 6.2% better
16.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 17.8 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • Excessive radial movement between the top of the steering column and the shaft indicating an excessively worn top bearing
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • Free play in the steering, measured at the rim of the steering wheel is: excessive
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
Visibility
▼ 2.6% worse
12.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 11.7 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▲ 18.4% better
31.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 38.1 / 100 tests
  • Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
  • A direction indicator: lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
  • A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
Wheels & Suspension
▲ 2.7% better
94.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 96.9 / 100 tests
  • A wheel bearing: with excessive play
  • A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 17.3% better
16.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 20.2 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • A transmission: joint, belt or chain excessively worn
  • Fuel system: leaking, or missing or ineffective filler cap
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▲ 27.5% better
6.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.1 / 100 tests
  • A seat belt:
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • Audible warning:
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • Audible warning:
Other
▼ 2.8% worse
33.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 32.7 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users
  • Emissions test unable to be completed

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 406 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 119
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 81
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 73
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 39
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 22
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 22
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
MINOR
Occurrences: 22
A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 22
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 21

Serious faults (Top 10)

Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 24
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 22
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 19
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 16
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
FAIL
Occurrences: 14
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 13
Audible warning:
FAIL
Occurrences: 11
A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has only one lamp or all lamps not working
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
Brakes imbalance across an axle such that: the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. Or in the case of testing on the road, the vehicle deviates excessively from a straight lin
FAIL
Occurrences: 10
Parking brake efficiency: below minimum requirement
FAIL
Occurrences: 8