Man Unknown (2018)

4,113 real MOT outcomes analysed • 8.1% first-time pass rate

2018 Man Unknown

CarHunch analysed 4,113 real MOT records for the 2018 Man Unknown. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 2018 MAN is a commercial vehicle, and the 8.1% first-time pass rate reflects the far stricter MOT standards applied to HGVs and large goods vehicles compared to cars—not a sign of poor quality. Diesel dominance (99% of the cohort) and a 7.0% pass rate for those units is normal for this vehicle class, and dangerous defects are rare at just 1.7%.

At 87,000 miles median, these are working vehicles with typical commercial mileage for their age, and the low average of 0.08 failures and 0.3 advisories per test shows they're generally well-maintained when they do pass. If you're buying one, treat the pass rate as irrelevant to reliability—instead, focus on service history, brake condition, and whether it's been regularly inspected by a workshop familiar with commercial vehicles.

Below average reliability 71.9% below UK average
8.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
87,186
typical mileage
49,355–131,277 middle half
1.7%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.08
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.4 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2018 Man Unknown

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Man Unknown

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

Inspection ClickMechanic Have a qualified mechanic check this car before you commit to buying

CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (99%) 4,064 7% 0.08
Diesel (1%) 48 94.4% 0.23
Diesel (0%) 1 100% 0

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Man Unknown vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

49,355
low mileage
87,186
typical
131,277
high mileage

Half of all 2018 Man Unknown vehicles fall between 49,355 and 131,277 miles.

2018 Man Unknown — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 26 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (8% of peak).

23 26 2019 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.

MOT History Averages

1.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.08
Avg failures per vehicle
0.3
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2018 Man Unknown

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 50%
    Oil leak, but not excessive
  • 29.5%
    Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
  • 23.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 21.8%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 21.3%
    Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction
  • 18.2%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 15.6%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 14.4%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Man Unknown?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Man Unknown:

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025