MG MGF reliability: MOT pass rate and common faults

1,525 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used in 2001 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

MG MGF cars first used in 2001 had an MOT pass rate above the average for their age.

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.

69.4%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 67.0% to 71.6%.

MG MGF, all years69.4%
Same-age average, all vehicles61.1%

In 2025, 69.4% of the 1,525 initial MOT tests on MG MGF cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 61.1%. That is 8.3 points above the same-age average.

Check a specific MGF

Its own MOT history, free.

MG MGF 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
2001age 24		1,52560,900	69.4%±2.4	+8.3 ptsall: 61.1%

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

Common MGF problems at the MOT

Share of the 467 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these can add up to more than 100%.

Brakes37.3%
Suspension34.3%
Lights and electrics32.8%
Noise, emissions, leaks28.5%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors21.4%
Tyres10.9%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems.

What to check when viewing an MGF

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

Brakes
In 37.3% of failed MGF tests
- On a clear road, brake firmly and check the car stops in a straight line without juddering or pulling to one side.
- Check the handbrake holds the car on a slope.
- Look through the wheels at the brake discs for deep grooves or a raised lip at the edge.
Suspension
In 34.3% of failed MGF tests
- Push down hard on each corner. Check the car rises once and settles, not bouncing again and again.
- On the test drive, listen for knocks or clunks over speed bumps and potholes.
- Check the car sits level when parked on flat ground.
Lights and electrics
In 32.8% of failed MGF 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.
- Check the dashboard warning lights come on when the car is switched on and then go out. Ask about any that stay lit.
Noise, emissions, leaks
In 28.5% of failed MGF tests
- Ask to see the car start from cold. Heavy smoke from the exhaust is worth asking about.
- Listen for blowing or rattling from the exhaust with the engine running.
- Look under the car for drips of oil, coolant or other fluids.

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

Check an MGF's MOT history

MG MGF questions

Is the MG MGF reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 69.4% of initial MOT tests on MG MGF cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 61.1%. That is 8.3 points above 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 MGF problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are brakes (in 37.3% of failed tests), suspension (in 34.3% of failed tests) and lights and electrics (in 32.8% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 24-year-old MG MGF?

At their 2025 MOT tests, MG MGF cars first used in 2001, about 24 years old, had a median of 60,900 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific MGF'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 MGF

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 MGF cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count