MG Metro (1983)
1983 MG Metro
CarHunch analysed 20,171 real MOT records for the 1983 MG Metro. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1983 MG Metro has a first-time pass rate of just 0.2%, devastatingly below the UK average of 80%—these cars are fundamentally unreliable for MOT compliance, though the complete absence of dangerous defects (0%) suggests failures are mostly minor rather than safety-critical. At a median mileage of 50,377 miles for a 40-year-old car, these are relatively low-mileage survivors, yet they're still failing MOTs at scale, pointing to age-related deterioration rather than abuse or hard use.
The average of just 0.01 failures per vehicle masks the reality: nearly all cars that fail do so, but the extremely low advisory count (0.0) tells you there's little warning before failure—components simply give up. If you're considering a 1983 Metro, budget for comprehensive recommissioning before use, treat any MOT pass as a lucky escape rather than a reliability endorsement, and expect annual repair costs to dwarf the car's value unless you're prepared to do much of the work yourself.
What to check before buying a 1983 MG Metro
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 MG Metro
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 20,168 | 0.2% | 0.01 |
| Diesel (0%) | 2 | 0% | 0 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 0% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1983 MG Metro 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.
Half of all 1983 MG Metro vehicles fall between 38,616 and 74,875 miles.
1983 MG Metro — Still on the Road
10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 — 71% of the peak remain.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1983 MG Metro
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
25.7%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
-
17.1%
Oil leak
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17.1%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
-
16.4%
Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
-
16.4%
Nearside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
-
16.4%
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
-
15.1%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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13.8%
Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1983. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific MG Metro?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.