MG RV8
Registered from 1993 to 1998.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 1994 3.9 petrol. 21 of 176 tests failed, 12%.
Better than 93% of 1994 cars. The typical one fails 24%, across 127 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 57% | 12 |
| Lights and electrics | 33% | 7 |
| Suspension | 19% | 4 |
| Visibility | 19% | 4 |
| Steering | 14% | 3 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 5% | 1 |
The defects inspectors cite
- 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.
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- A wheel bearing excessively rough
- Abnormal lag in brake operation on a wheel
- Braking effort not recording at a wheel
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 91% of 1994 cars — 57% of its 21 failed tests, where an ordinary 1994 car has 37%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 57% of its failures
- Abnormal lag in brake operation on a wheel
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Suspension — 19% of its failures
- Steering — 14% of its failures
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Lights and electrics — 33% of its failures
- A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 19% of its failures
When it starts failing
Most of these pass at every mileage on record.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 9% | — | 69 | |
| 20–40k miles | 18% | — | 56 | |
| 40–60k miles | 6% | — | 33 |
158 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.