MG Zr: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MG Zr fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 7.2 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,998 individual MG Zr tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 69.5% first-time pass rate means roughly 31 in every 100 MG Zrs 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 Zr tested had covered 83,604 miles and was built around 2004.

What this means at salvage auction

Pass rate is a proxy for what a car costs to keep on the road. On a MG Zr 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 Zr 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 Zrs actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MG Zr

1. Emissions levels exceed default limits, 2.8% of tests (9.73x the national rate for this defect)
2. 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, 7.6% of tests (9.12x the national rate for this defect)
3. The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, 1.7% of tests (7.44x the national rate for this defect)
4. Emissions test unable to be completed, 2% of tests (6.42x the national rate for this defect)
5. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 2% of tests (5.37x the national rate for this defect)
6. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.2% of tests (4.62x the national rate for this defect)
7. Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer, 1.8% of tests (4.59x the national rate for this defect)
8. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 3.1% of tests (4.07x the national rate for this defect)
9. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 3% of tests (4.02x the national rate for this defect)
10. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.9% of tests (2.76x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,919 DVSA-tracked MG Zr tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 3.52% of these flagged MG Zr defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

MG Zr 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 Zr year:

• 2002 MG Zr - 73.1% first-time pass, 264 tests
• 2003 MG Zr - 69.2% first-time pass, 523 tests
• 2004 MG Zr - 68.6% first-time pass, 656 tests
• 2005 MG Zr - 72.5% first-time pass, 404 tests

Other MG models

• MG Zs - 81.4%
• MG 3 - 80.1%
• MG Zs Exclusive Ev - 90.6%
• MG Tf - 72.4%
• MG Mgf - 69.6%
• MG 5 Exclusive - 91.6%
• MG Zs Exclusive Vti-Tech - 90.3%
• MG Hs Exclusive S-A - 91.9%

Models with a similar pass rate

• MG Mgf - 69.6%
• Jeep Grand Cherokee Crd Ltd A - 69.6%
• Mercedes-Benz Citan - 69.5%
• Renault Zoe - 69.4%
• Fiat Panda - 69.3%
• Saab 900 - 69.3%

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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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate