MG GS MOT pass rate & common failures
The MG GS appears in 15,745 MOT tests spanning model years 2016–2019, and 86.4% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 12.3%. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
Best and worst GS years
Ranked across GS years with at least 1,000 tests. Older cars fail more simply because they are older — compare years close together in age before drawing conclusions.
What the MOT record shows
Not every year is equal — 88.1% of 2018 examples pass against 85.0% of 2016 ones.
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests against 5.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,246 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 7.7% in the 0-30k band and 28.6% in the 120-150k band, a 20.9-point spread — more than double.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 24.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 8.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 18.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every GS model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3,269 | 85.0% | 15.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2017 | 5,379 | 85.5% | 14.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2018 | 5,354 | 88.1% | 11.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2019 | 1,743 | 86.2% | 13.8% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 1,308 |
| 2 | Brakes | 5.2% | 825 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.2% | 812 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 1.9% | 305 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 272 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 251 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 1.1% | 166 |
| 8 | Suspension | 0.8% | 132 |
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 | 1,246 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 416 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 389 |
| 4 | Anti-lock braking system | 308 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 294 |
| 6 | Electronic stability control | 220 |
| 7 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 215 |
| 8 | Wipers | 203 |
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 | 24.3% | 3,825 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.8% | 3,277 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.7% | 1,373 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.5% | 713 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 3.6% | 567 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.0% | 468 |
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 | 5,001 | 7.7% |
| 30-60k | 7,840 | 14.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,445 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 405 | 23.2% |
| 120-150k | 49 | 28.6% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,651 | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 3,165 | 10.4% |
| 2023 | 3,247 | 13.1% |
| 2024 | 3,333 | 17.3% |
| 2025 | 3,349 | 18.1% |
What to check before buying a MG GS
- Lighting & signalling (8.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (5.2% 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.
- Tyres (5.2% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the MG GS?
86.4% of the 15,745 MG GS MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 13.6% fail rate, across model years 2016–2019.
What does the MG GS most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.3% of tests, then brakes (5.2%).
Which GS years are best and worst for MOT results?
2018 has the best pass rate at 88.1% and 2016 the weakest at 85.0%, from 5,354 and 3,269 tests respectively.
How much does mileage affect GS MOT results?
Fail rates run at 7.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 28.6% for 120-150k, a 20.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 15,745 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.