MG Zt: MOT pass rate and reliability data

The MG Zt fails its first MOT more often than the average UK car, by 6.3 percentage points. These figures come from the DVSA's full year of anonymised MOT results, covering 1,428 individual MG Zt tests. Nothing here is an estimate or a survey.

The numbers

What this means if you are buying one

A 70.4% first-time pass rate means roughly 30 in every 100 MG Zts 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 Zt tested had covered 97,406 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 Zt 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 Zt 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 Zts actually sold for at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MG Zt

1. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 2.8% of tests (9.2x 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, 4.9% of tests (5.87x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 3.5% of tests (4.23x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 1.6% of tests (3.59x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 2.8% of tests (2.87x the national rate for this defect)
6. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.2% of tests (2.28x the national rate for this defect)
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 1.6% of tests (2.12x the national rate for this defect)
8. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 3.6% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this defect)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 1.5% of tests (1.92x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.5% of tests (1.88x the national rate for this defect)

From 2,176 DVSA-tracked MG Zt tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.87% of these flagged MG Zt defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 4.97% nationally.

MG Zt 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 Zt year:

• 2003 MG Zt - 69.4% first-time pass, 301 tests
• 2004 MG Zt - 72.9% first-time pass, 480 tests
• 2005 MG Zt - 72.1% first-time pass, 301 tests

MG Zt by fuel type

Diesel and petrol versions of the same car fail on different things, so the fuel type moves the number:

• Petrol MG Zt - 73.3% first-time pass, 979 tests
• Diesel MG Zt - 66% first-time pass, 429 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

• Toyota Mr2 - 70.4%
• Toyota Hiace - 70.4%
• Toyota Landcruiser - 70.4%
• Rover Metro - 70.4%
• Peugeot Expert - 70.2%
• Saab 9-5 - 70.2%

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