MG Mgf: MOT pass rate and reliability data
The MG Mgf fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 7.1 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 5,751 individual MG Mgf tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.
The numbers
| First-time pass rate | 69.6% |
| UK national average | 76.7% |
| Difference | -7.1 points |
| Tests analysed | 5,751 |
| Average mileage at test | 65,325 miles |
| Average year of manufacture | 1999 |
| Reliability rank | 1,772 of 2,005 models |
What this means if you are buying one
A 69.6% first-time pass rate means roughly 30 in every 100 MG Mgfs presented for MOT fail on the first attempt. That is worse than average, so budget for remedial work and treat a fresh 12-month MOT as a genuine selling point rather than a given. The average MG Mgf tested had covered 65,325 miles and was built around 1999.
What this means at salvage auction
Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a MG Mgf bought as a repairable salvage, assume the mechanical side needs more than the visible accident damage, and pad your repair estimate accordingly.
Before you bid: run the lot through the analyzer, check the car's own record, check the mileage, decode the VIN, and if it carries a marker use the write-off value calculator. Or compare it against another model.
Looking at a specific MG Mgf rather than the model in general? The free check covers its MOT and mileage history, and the full HPI report confirms the insurance write-off category, outstanding finance and whether it is recorded stolen, from licensed data for 5 credits. Already own one that has been damaged? Work out whether fixing it beats selling it with the repair or scrap calculator, and see what damaged MG Mgfs actually sold for at UK salvage auction.
Most common MOT failures on a MG Mgf
- Emissions levels exceed default limits, 6.4% of tests (22.06x the national rate for this defect)
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, 4.6% of tests (20.83x the national rate for this defect)
- Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.1% of tests (12.2x the national rate for this defect)
- A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 2.2% of tests (8.02x the national rate for this defect)
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 2.8% of tests (7.02x the national rate for this defect)
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 1.6% of tests (4.63x the national rate for this defect)
- 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, 3.6% of tests (4.39x the national rate for this defect)
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 4.2% of tests (4.25x the national rate for this defect)
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.9% of tests (2.47x the national rate for this defect)
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen, 2.7% of tests (2.22x the national rate for this defect)
From 11,513 DVSA-tracked MG Mgf tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.67% of these flagged MG Mgf defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.
MG Mgf pass rate by model year
Pass rates fall steadily as cars age, so the model year matters as much as the model. First-time pass rate for each MG Mgf year:
- 1996 MG Mgf - 67.5% first-time pass, 520 tests
- 1997 MG Mgf - 71% first-time pass, 661 tests
- 1998 MG Mgf - 67.1% first-time pass, 827 tests
- 1999 MG Mgf - 70.7% first-time pass, 835 tests
- 2000 MG Mgf - 71.1% first-time pass, 986 tests
- 2001 MG Mgf - 72.4% first-time pass, 1,604 tests
Other MG models
- MG Zs - 81.4%
- MG 3 - 80.1%
- MG Zs Exclusive Ev - 90.6%
- MG Tf - 72.4%
- MG 5 Exclusive - 91.6%
- MG Zs Exclusive Vti-Tech - 90.3%
- MG Hs Exclusive S-A - 91.9%
- MG Hs Exclusive - 90.7%
Models with a similar pass rate
- Honda Prelude - 69.7%
- Mazda Bt-50 - 69.7%
- Ford Galaxy - 69.6%
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd Ltd A - 69.6%
- Mercedes-Benz Citan - 69.5%
- MG Zr - 69.5%
If this car is a salvage or write-off
- What does Cat N mean? Category N explained
- What does Cat S mean? Category S explained
- Cat S vs Cat N: the real differences
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