MG Zr
From 3,262 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Newer Zrs fare better: 2005 models pass at 74.1% vs 71.7% for 2003.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are 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, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc and the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements. The top issue, 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, caused 200 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| 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 | 200 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 143 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 126 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 85 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 81 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 77 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 59 |
| emissions test unable to be completed | 56 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 55 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 53 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 45.3% of Zr failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 9.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £151.
MG Zr on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 691 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 691. At this rate, roughly 9.8 years until none remain. Now at 13.2% of its peak (51,115 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,494 | 5,258 | +0 | -32 | -32 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,519 | 5,265 | +0 | -47 | -47 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,521 | 5,310 | +0 | -231 | -231 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,587 | 5,475 | +0 | -381 | -381 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,741 | 5,702 | +0 | -166 | -166 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,789 | 5,820 | +0 | -71 | -71 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,852 | 5,828 | +0 | -77 | -77 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,930 | 5,827 | +0 | -84 | -84 |
7 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zr | Petrol | 518 | 40% |
| Zr+ | Petrol | 301 | 23% |
| Zr 105 | Petrol | 138 | 11% |
| Zr+ 105 | Petrol | 107 | 8% |
| Zr 160 | Petrol | 99 | 8% |
| Zr 105 Trophy Se | Petrol | 83 | 6% |
| Zr+ Td | Diesel | 65 | 5% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 74.1% | 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, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
| 2004 | 68.9% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 |
| 2003 | 71.7% | 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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2002 | 70.9% | 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, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
1 earlier years
| 2001 | 74.3% | 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, parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
Typical mileage
Half of all Zrs tested had between 60,740 and 109,187 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 82,742 median miles, the Zr has 0.035 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 Zr MOT pass rate?
The MG Zr has a 71.3% MOT pass rate based on 3,262 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a MG Zr?
The most common MOT failure on the MG Zr is 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, which caused 200 failures. Other common issues include a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many MG Zrs are on UK roads?
There are 1,494 MG Zrs currently licensed on UK roads, with 5,258 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a MG Zr at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a MG Zr is 82,742 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 60,740 and 109,187 miles.
Buying a used Zr?
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 71.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £151 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 45.3% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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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.