Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2002 Morgan 4/4?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2002 Morgan 4/4?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2002 Morgan 4/4?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2002 Morgan 4/4 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 152 vehicles, the 2002 Morgan 4/4 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 87.7%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2002 Morgan 4/4?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2002 Morgan 4/4 are: Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing (15.1% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (14.8% of vehicles), Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel (13% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2002 Morgan 4/4?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Morgan 4/4 (2002)

152 real MOT outcomes analysed • 87.7% first-time pass rate

2002 Morgan 4/4

CarHunch analysed 152 real MOT records for the 2002 Morgan 4/4. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Compare Models

The 2002 Morgan 4/4 passes its MOT on the first attempt 82.5% of the time, just above the UK average of 80%, suggesting these characterful British roadsters are reasonably reliable despite their age and hand-built nature. The dangerous defect rate of 14.5% is mercifully low, so safety concerns are not a major red flag.

At nearly 20,000 miles average, these cars show modest mileage for their twenty-plus years, which explains why they average 2.18 failures and 4.5 advisories per test—typical wear items rather than systemic issues. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the chassis and electrics, as these hand-assembled vehicles are prone to niggling faults that accumulate to a median CarHunch score of 50.

We have limited data for the 2002 Morgan 4/4 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 8 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

87.7%

UK average ~80%

Around average

Dangerous (ever)

14.5%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.18

Over 16 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

17k

Middle half: 11k–26k

For context

These stats describe 152 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 152 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 15.1%

Brake pedal anti-slip provision missing · Offside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively · Nearside Rear Service brake binding but not excessively · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 14.8%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Suspension & steering 13%

Steering rack has slight free play detected at steering wheel · Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play · Nearside Front Axle king pin has slight play in pin and/or bush · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Other issues 10.4%

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' · Horn not working

Lighting 8.7%

Stop lamp(s) all not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 152 Morgan 4/4 cars.

Before you buy a 2002 Morgan 4/4

Based on MOT data from 152 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 14.5% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Petrol (99%)	150	87.6%	2.19

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Morgan 4/4 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

17,475

typical

10,569

low mileage

25,992

high mileage

Half of all 2002 Morgan 4/4 vehicles fall between 10,569 and 25,992 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 10,569 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 10,569–25,992 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2002 Morgan 4/4s sit.

⚠ Over 35,089 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2002 Morgan 4/4 — Still on the Road

Most 2002 Morgan 4/4s are still being driven.

Strong survival — 93 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 89% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.18

Avg failures per vehicle

4.5

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Morgan 4/4: All 4/4 years → Which year to buy? →

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1987 1991 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2003

Or browse all models: Morgan →

Compare with another model

See how the 2002 Morgan 4/4 stacks up against a rival.

A solid choice — agree?