Mg common problems and MOT failures
From 182,991 MOT tests in 2024, 13.5% of Mg vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.
Top Mg MOT failure reasons
| # | Problem | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | tyre seriously damaged | 2,508 |
| 2 | tyre tread depth outside legal limits | 2,248 |
| 3 | headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of led | 1,985 |
| 4 | suspension pin, bush or joint worn | 1,944 |
| 5 | parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 1,812 |
| 6 | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements | 1,628 |
| 7 | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 1,585 |
| 8 | brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 1,575 |
| 9 | windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 1,526 |
| 10 | emissions levels exceed default limits | 1,410 |
What this means if you're buying a Mg
The single most common MOT failure for Mg is tyre seriously damaged, accounting for 14% of all failure items. A set of new tyres typically costs £200–£500 depending on size.
These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Mg vehicles. If you're viewing a used Mg, it's worth checking these areas specifically.
Mg models by MOT pass rate
Lowest pass rates first — these models have the most testable issues.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Mgf | 11,673 | 75.4% |
| Tf | 14,355 | 78.6% |
| 3 | 25,566 | 83.9% |
| Zs | 27,586 | 85.1% |
| Zs Exclusive Ev | 15,678 | 92.4% |
Buying a specific Mg? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.
Check MOT history on GOV.UK