EV ZoneMG
Reliability
MG has an 80.6% MOT pass rate across 158,242 tests, placing it above many established mainstream brands.
80.6% MOT pass rate based on 158,000 tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 10 MG models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
MG Vehicle Check
Check any MG's full history
- ✓Outstanding finance check
- ✓Stolen marker check
- ✓Write-off and salvage history
- ✓Full MOT history and mileage
- ✓Safety recall check
- ✓Vehicle valuation
Are MG cars reliable?
MG vs other premium brands
MG's 80.6% pass rate is a strong result, sitting well above the 71.9% national average and ahead of many longer-established brands.
As a relatively young fleet in the UK, these figures reflect well but should be viewed with that context. Newer cars typically pass at higher rates regardless of make.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the MG MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
At 3 years old, MG vehicles pass at 86.5% compared with 87.5% nationally. The gap widens with age. At age 5, MG sits at 77.1% vs 84.3% national. By age 7, MG passes at 69.0% vs 79.1% national, a gap of around 10 percentage points that may reflect the pressure on components in the middle years.
Test volumes thin out sharply for MG vehicles older than 11 years, and figures beyond that age band should be viewed with caution due to small samples. Most of the modern MG fleet on UK roads is under 7 years old.
What are the most common MG faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for MG, ranked by the share of failed tests they were found on. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific MG failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on MG vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Not working (found on 12.53% of failed MG tests)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (found on 7.93% of failed MG tests)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
- Has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords (found on 7.39% of failed MG tests)
A deep cut or gash in a tyre's sidewall or tread that exposes the internal structure. Usually means the tyre needs replacing immediately.
- Does not clear the windscreen effectively (found on 7.15% of failed MG tests)
- Less than 1.5 mm thick (found on 7.09% of failed MG tests)
A brake pad measured below the minimum safe thickness of 1.5mm. Immediate replacement required to maintain braking performance.
Brake faults, found on 25.97% of failed tests, are MG's third most common failure category and higher than the 22.43% national average. Lamps and electrical leads at 32.59% (below the 38.2% national). Tyres at 26.57% (vs 22.6% national) is also elevated. Suspension at 18.37% is well below the 32.44% national average, which may reflect the young fleet age, as suspension wear typically accumulates over years.
Which MG models are most reliable?
Top 15 MG models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 71.9%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| MG 3 | 18,779 | 72.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| MG Zs | 17,947 | 74.3% | Brakes |
| MG Hs Exclusive S-A | 9,490 | 89.6% | Tyres |
| MG Zs Exclusive Vti-Tech | 9,040 | 85.8% | Brakes |
| MG Zs Exclusive Ev | 8,881 | 84.4% | Tyres |
| MG Tf | 8,196 | 69.2% | Brakes |
| MG 5 Exclusive | 8,016 | 85.8% | Tyres |
| MG Hs Exclusive | 7,664 | 87.6% | Brakes |
| MG Zs Exclusive T-Gdi Auto | 5,769 | 88.4% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| MG Zs Excite Vti-Tech | 5,228 | 83.9% | Tyres |
The HS Exclusive S-A scores highest at 89.60% (9,490 tests). Newer trim variants of the 5 (85.83%) and ZS (85.76%) also perform well. The main-line MG 3 is the weakest at 72.26% (18,779 tests), and the ZS sits at 74.32% (17,947 tests). The pattern suggests that newer variants outperform the longer-established models. Older MG 3 and ZS vehicles have had more time on the road to accumulate wear.
How many miles do MG vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
At 3 years old, MG vehicles cover roughly average mileage at 32,305 miles vs 33,693 national. The pattern diverges from age 4 onwards. By age 10, MGs typically cover 60,184 miles vs 82,514 national, a gap of over 22,000 miles. This may reflect the brand's positioning as a value city-runabout rather than a high-mileage commuter or fleet vehicle.
Mileage figures for MG vehicles older than 11 years are based on small samples and should be viewed with that caveat. Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies.
Are there any MG safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by MG when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a MG via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a MG's full history?
Before you buy any used MG, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this MG been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this MG?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this MG been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this MG been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this MG worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any MG's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used MG?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
MG insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
MG Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test data, 2025, Great Britain (published June 2026). First MOT test of the year for each class 4 vehicle, with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.