2017 Mg 3 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 16,840 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Mg 3, the most common recorded failure areas were tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 83.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (87.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.1% in the 90-120k group versus 10.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 6.8% | 1,141 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 1,033 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.8% | 811 |
| 4 | Visibility | 4.5% | 762 |
| 5 | Suspension | 3.5% | 582 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.4% | 241 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 577 |
| 2 | Wipers | 513 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 444 |
| 4 | Washers | 401 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 389 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 293 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.2% | 4,578 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 3,496 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.6% | 2,455 |
| 4 | Other defects | 8.9% | 1,493 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.3% | 561 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.8% | 304 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 6,913 | 10.1% |
| 30-60k | 7,723 | 18.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,910 | 25.2% |
| 90-120k | 259 | 30.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,219 | 11.1% |
| 2022 | 3,310 | 13.4% |
| 2023 | 3,407 | 16.2% |
| 2024 | 3,448 | 19.0% |
| 2025 | 3,456 | 20.3% |
What to check before buying a 2017 3
Before buying a 2017 Mg 3, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Tyres accounted for 6.8% of tests for this year.
- Tyres (6.8% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Brakes (6.1% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Lighting & signalling (4.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Mg 3s pass their MOT?
83.9% of the 16,840 2017 Mg 3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 16.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Mg 3?
Tyres, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by brakes (6.1%).
Does the 2017 3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 10.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,840 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.