MG Roadster
From 440 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen and 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.. The top issue, a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, caused 17 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 17 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 15 |
| 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. | 14 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 12 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 11 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 9 |
| braking effort not recording at a wheel | 8 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 8 |
| fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users | 6 |
| parking brake inoperative on one side | 6 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. Only 26.4% of Roadster failures are serious (safety or roadside), below the 44.4% average. When this car fails its MOT, it's more likely to be lights, wipers, or emissions than something dangerous. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £81.
MG Roadster on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 8 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 7 newly registered, a net loss of 1.
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,078 | 282 | +3 | -0 | +10 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,067 | 283 | +3 | -0 | +3 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,061 | 286 | +1 | -0 | +11 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,077 | 259 | +0 | -8 | -8 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,086 | 258 | +4 | -7 | -3 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,094 | 253 | +1 | -0 | +1 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,084 | 262 | +2 | -0 | +20 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,067 | 259 | +1 | -2 | -1 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all Roadsters tested had between 11,617 and 51,555 miles on the clock. Relatively low mileage overall. Many are still fairly young.
At 28,721 median miles, the Roadster has 0.063 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other MG models
| MG Zs | 81.9% |
| MG 3 | 79.4% |
| MG Zs Exclusive Ev | 89.5% |
| MG Tf | 75% |
| MG Mgf | 72.8% |
Common questions
What is the MG Roadster MOT pass rate?
The MG Roadster has a 81.8% MOT pass rate based on 440 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a MG Roadster?
The most common MOT failure on the MG Roadster is a headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led, which caused 17 failures. Other common issues include windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen.
How many MG Roadsters are on UK roads?
There are 1,078 MG Roadsters currently licensed on UK roads, with 282 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a MG Roadster at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a MG Roadster is 28,721 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 11,617 and 51,555 miles.
Buying a used Roadster?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 81.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £81 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.