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. The MG Zt sits 6.3 points below the national average, ranked 1,749 of 2,005 models. On one bought as 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 recorded closing bids for damaged MG Zts at UK salvage auction.

Most common MOT failures on a MG Zt

1. An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction, 3.5% of tests (8.44x 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, 5.9% of tests (6.23x the national rate for this defect)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 4.8% of tests (4.45x the national rate for this defect)
4. Parking brake inoperative on one side, 2% of tests (3.41x the national rate for this defect)
5. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.9% of tests (3.01x the national rate for this defect)
6. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 2.9% of tests (2.25x the national rate for this defect)
7. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 4.8% of tests (2.06x the national rate for this defect)
8. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2% of tests (2.01x the national rate for this defect)
9. Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, 2% of tests (1.89x the national rate for this defect)
10. A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 3.4% of tests (1.86x the national rate for this defect)

From 1,428 DVSA-tracked MG Zt tests, 2024. DVSA testers marked 2.88% of these flagged MG Zt defects as "dangerous", meaning the tester judged the car unsafe to drive away, against 5.11% nationally.

Most common MOT advisories on a MG Zt

An advisory doesn't fail the car - the tester flags it as worth watching, but it still passes. A different list from the failures above: what testers are noting on a MG Zt before it actually fails on it.

1. 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, 7.7% of tests (5.07x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
2. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 26.1% of tests (5.05x the national rate for this advisory)
3. Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded, 28.5% of tests (4.6x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
4. Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced, 5% of tests (4.05x the national rate for this advisory)
5. Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow, 3.5% of tests (3.16x the national rate for this advisory)
6. A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play, 3.4% of tests (2.52x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
7. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 5.3% of tests (1.87x the national rate for this advisory), also fails
8. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 8.4% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this advisory)
9. Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured, 17.4% of tests (1.42x the national rate for this advisory)
10. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 4.9% of tests (1.25x the national rate for this advisory)

From 1,428 DVSA-tracked MG Zt tests, 2024.

MG Zt pass rate by model year

From its 2003 to its 2005 model year, the MG Zt's first-time pass rate has risen 2.7 points, from 69.4% to 72.1%, the usual pattern: a newer model year is a younger car today, so it fails less. 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

The MG Zt's two most-tested fuel types split by 7.3 points: petrol passes first time 73.3% of the time (979 tests) against 66% for diesel (429 tests).

• 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
• Do you need an HPI check on a car you know is a write-off?

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All 2,005 models ranked by MOT pass rate