Mg MIDGET - 1979
158.3 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 1979 is 106.5 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Mg MIDGET, model year 1979.
Sample size: 107 cars, 180 tests and 285 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
More faults compared to the average car of same model year
Quick summary
Total: 107 cars
The 1979 MG Midget has an overall defect rate of 158 per 100 vehicles, significantly higher than the yearly average of 106 per 100, indicating a 49% increase. This model shows particularly high issues related to brakes, steering, lights and electrics, and body structure, where its defect rates are notably worse than average. Mileage trends suggest that defects are more frequent in lower mileage brackets, with the highest rates observed in the 0–31,000 miles category. While tyre wear is common across vehicles, this model's standout issues point to several critical areas for potential improvement.
Cars by mileage segment
Total: 107 cars
Categories
Brakes
▼ 40.6% worse
43.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 30.8 / 100 tests
- 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
- Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution
- 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
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
Steering
▼ 34.2% worse
20.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.9 / 100 tests
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
- Relative movement between steering wheel and column: indicating looseness
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
- A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
- Excessive movement of centre of steering wheel up or down
Visibility
▲ 1.1% better
8.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 9.0 / 100 tests
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Wiper blade: defective
- Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 32.5% worse
32.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 24.3 / 100 tests
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
- Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
- A battery insecure: but not likely to fall from carrier
- 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
▼ 20.2% worse
84.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 70.2 / 100 tests
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
- A wheel bearing: with excessive play
- A shock absorber damaged … or showing signs of severe leakage
Body/Structure
▼ 199.3% worse
42.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.1 / 100 tests
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
- A transmission: joint, belt or chain excessively worn
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
- Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
Equipment
▼ 7.3% worse
4.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 4.1 / 100 tests
- A seat belt:
- Audible warning:
- 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
Other
▼ 78.2% worse
81.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 45.5 / 100 tests
- Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
- Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Exhaust emits excessive dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during acceleration which would obscure the view of other road users
Fault rate by mileage segment
Model
Year average
* 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: 55
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 22
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 11
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: 8
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
A wheel bearing: with excessive play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 7
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 6
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Serious faults (Top 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: 8
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 8
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 7
Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Lamp: missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than a half not functioning
FAIL
Occurrences: 6
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 5
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 4
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 4