MG 5 years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

14,081 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2021–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

All 2 MG 5 years have MOT pass rates below the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

Below the average for their first-use year2021–2022
Above the average for their first-use yearNone
Can't be told apart from averageNone

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

84.0%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 83.4% to 84.6%.

MG 5, all years84.0%
Same-age average, all vehicles88.0%

In 2025, 84.0% of the 14,081 initial MOT tests on MG 5 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 88.0%. That is 4.0 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific 5

Its own MOT history, free.

MG 5 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3		8,25036,900	83.1%±0.9	−5.4 ptsall: 88.5%
2021age 4		5,83146,600	85.3%±1.0	−1.9 ptsall: 87.2%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Does mileage matter?

MG 5 first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

90.6% of MG 5 tests under 30,000 miles passed first time, against 75.5% at 90,000 to 119,999 miles. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 90.9% and 78.3%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
Under 30,000	4,381	90.6%±1.0	−0.3 ptsall: 90.9%
30,000–59,999	5,595	84.7%±1.0	−0.6 ptsall: 85.2%
60,000–89,999	2,486	76.1%±1.8	−3.9 ptsall: 80.0%
90,000–119,999	1,111	75.5%±2.7	−2.8 ptsall: 78.3%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, 5 tests were about average under 60,000 miles and below average at 60,000 to 119,999 miles.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all MG 5 tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: 120,000 or more. 3 tests (under 0.1%) had no usable odometer reading and are left out. How we count

Common 5 problems at the MOT

Share of the 2,255 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Lights and electrics46.6%
Tyres38.4%
Suspension20.3%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors9.8%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

Most common MOT failures on the MG 5

The defects recorded most often at the 2,255 failed initial tests on MG 5 cars, all years together, in the DVSA's own words. Each share is of failed tests, and a failed test can have more than one defect.

Defect	Share of failed tests	All vehicles, same age
Headlamp not working on dipped beamLights and electrics	14.6%329 tests	2.0%
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mmTyres	13.7%310 tests	10.2%
Shock absorber has a serious fluid leakSuspension	11.3%255 tests	1.9%
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cordsTyres	10.9%245 tests	16.7%
Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lampsLights and electrics	9.5%215 tests	1.4%
Stop lamp not workingLights and electrics	8.4%189 tests	1.6%
Headlamp aim too lowLights and electrics	7.9%178 tests	4.4%
Tyre has ply or cords exposedTyres	7.7%174 tests	8.9%
Headlamp not working on main beamLights and electrics	7.1%159 tests	0.3%
Coil spring fractured or brokenSuspension	5.8%131 tests	0.9%

These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. "All vehicles, same age" is the same defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the 5's failed tests in each year. How we count

What to check when viewing a 5

Based on the areas where MG 5 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Lights and electrics
In 46.6% of failed 5 tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Tyres
In 38.4% of failed 5 tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Suspension
In 20.3% of failed 5 tests
- Push down hard on each corner. The car should rise once and settle, not keep bouncing.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- The car should sit level when parked on flat ground.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 9.8% of failed 5 tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a 5's MOT history

MG 5 questions

Which MG 5 years have lower MOT pass rates?

Compared with all vehicles first used in the same year, these model years have below-average MOT pass rates: 2021–2022. None is clearly above average. A pass rate is one signal: it also reflects mileage and upkeep, and doesn't record engine or gearbox faults.

Is the MG 5 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 84.0% of initial MOT tests on MG 5 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 88.0%. That is 4.0 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common MG 5 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are lights and electrics (in 46.6% of failed tests), tyres (in 38.4% of failed tests) and suspension (in 20.3% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 3-year-old MG 5?

At their 2025 MOT tests, MG 5 cars first used in 2022, about 3 years old, had a median of 36,900 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific 5's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any MG 5

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other MG models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all MG 5 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count