MG Zt
From 2,167 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older Zts fare better: 2006 models pass at 69.6% vs 80% for 2004.
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 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 and brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded. The top issue, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, caused 89 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 89 |
| 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 | 88 |
| brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 62 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 60 |
| a suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 50 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 49 |
| an srs malfunction indicator lamp (mil) indicates a system malfunction | 48 |
| a rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 43 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 39 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 31 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 21.3% of Zt failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 51.3% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £163.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 77.2% while Diesel versions pass at 68.4%, a 9 percentage point gap.
MG Zt on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 427 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 2 newly registered, a net loss of 425. At this rate, roughly 10.6 years until none remain. Now at 23.5% of its peak (19,060 in 2006 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,649 | 2,831 | +0 | -33 | -33 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,694 | 2,819 | +1 | -64 | -63 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,707 | 2,869 | +1 | -143 | -142 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,767 | 2,951 | +0 | -187 | -187 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,938 | 2,967 | +0 | -130 | -130 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,090 | 2,945 | +0 | -44 | -44 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,107 | 2,972 | +0 | -74 | -74 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,183 | 2,970 | +0 | -67 | -67 |
11 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zt+ | Gas | 226 | 21% |
| Zt+ Cdti 135 | Diesel | 130 | 12% |
| Zt-T+ Cdti | Diesel | 114 | 10% |
| Zt-T+ Cdti 135 | Diesel | 104 | 10% |
| Zt-T+ | Petrol | 101 | 9% |
| Zt+ Cdti | Diesel | 87 | 8% |
| Zt+ V6 190 | Petrol | 78 | 7% |
| Zt Se V8 260 | Gas | 73 | 7% |
| Zt+ Turbo | Gas | 67 | 6% |
| Zt Cdti+ 135 Auto | Diesel | 61 | 6% |
| Zt Se 260 V8 | Gas | 52 | 5% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 69.6% | a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen |
| 2005 | 74.1% | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 80% | 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2003 | 67.8% | 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, brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded |
1 earlier years
| 2002 | 76.2% | 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 rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources |
Typical mileage
Half of all Zts tested had between 77,629 and 125,659 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 103,496 median miles, the Zt has 0.024 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 Zt MOT pass rate?
The MG Zt has a 75% MOT pass rate based on 2,167 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a MG Zt?
The most common MOT failure on the MG Zt is a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, which caused 89 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many MG Zts are on UK roads?
There are 1,649 MG Zts currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,831 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a MG Zt at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a MG Zt is 103,496 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 77,629 and 125,659 miles.
Buying a used Zt?
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 £163 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.