MG Tf
From 14,355 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Tfs fare better: 2011 models pass at 84.3% vs 72.9% for 2002.
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn and a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded. The top issue, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, caused 444 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 444 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 360 |
| a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded | 355 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 344 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 305 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 294 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 245 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 241 |
| lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer | 234 |
| audible warning inoperative | 210 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 47.9% of failures are serious: 36.6% are safety issues (brakes, steering, tyre damage) and 11.3% could actually leave you stranded. That's close to the 44.4% average across all models. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £142.
MG Tf on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 916 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 3 newly registered, a net loss of 913. At this rate, roughly 15.5 years until none remain. Now at 54.7% of its peak (25,885 in 2009 Q2).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 7,438 | 6,719 | +1 | -127 | -126 |
| 2025 Q2 | 7,707 | 6,576 | +0 | -89 | -89 |
| 2025 Q1 | 6,430 | 7,942 | +2 | -256 | -254 |
| 2024 Q4 | 6,377 | 8,249 | +0 | -444 | -444 |
| 2024 Q3 | 8,047 | 7,023 | +1 | -82 | -81 |
| 2024 Q2 | 8,344 | 6,807 | +0 | -0 | +465 |
| 2024 Q1 | 7,215 | 7,471 | +1 | -820 | -819 |
| 2023 Q4 | 7,049 | 8,456 | +1 | -213 | -212 |
15 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tf | Petrol | 3,901 | 53% |
| Tf 160 | Petrol | 895 | 12% |
| Tf 135 | Gas | 595 | 8% |
| Mg Tf Spark 135 | Petrol | 312 | 4% |
| Tf 135 Le 500 | Petrol | 278 | 4% |
| Tf 135 Cool Blue | Petrol | 204 | 3% |
| Tf Stepspeed | Petrol | 186 | 3% |
| Tf 135 Sprint | Petrol | 182 | 2% |
| Tf 135 Sunstorm | Petrol | 178 | 2% |
| Tf 115 | Petrol | 134 | 2% |
| Tf 1924 Mg 2004 135 | Petrol | 130 | 2% |
| Tf 115 Cool Blue | Petrol | 103 | 1% |
| Tf 160 Sprint | Petrol | 78 | 1% |
| Mg Tf Spark 115 | Petrol | 63 | <1% |
| Tf 115 Sunstorm | Petrol | 59 | <1% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 84.3% | a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2010 | 79.6% | a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2009 | 77.9% | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded |
| 2008 | 73.4% | a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
5 earlier years
| 2006 | 77.1% | a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer |
| 2005 | 75.8% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play |
| 2004 | 75.4% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2003 | 74.2% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension component excessively damaged or corroded |
| 2002 | 72.9% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
Typical mileage
Half of all Tfs tested had between 52,224 and 79,259 miles on the clock.
At 62,177 median miles, the Tf has 0.04 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other MG models
| MG Zs | 81.9% |
| MG 3 | 79.4% |
| MG Zs Exclusive Ev | 89.5% |
| MG Mgf | 72.8% |
| MG Zs Exclusive Vti-Tech | 90.4% |
Common questions
What is the MG Tf MOT pass rate?
The MG Tf has a 75% MOT pass rate based on 14,355 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a MG Tf?
The most common MOT failure on the MG Tf is parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, which caused 444 failures. Other common issues include a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn.
How many MG Tfs are on UK roads?
There are 7,438 MG Tfs currently licensed on UK roads, with 6,719 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a MG Tf at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a MG Tf is 62,177 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 52,224 and 79,259 miles.
Buying a used Tf?
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 75% pass rate and an average repair bill of £142 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.