2019 MG GS — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 MG GS passed 86.2% of its 1,743 recorded MOT tests. That is 3.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 10.2%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and tyres.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.2%) and brakes (6.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and brake pads — headlamp aim alone was recorded 140 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 19.8% versus 8.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 6.3% of tests failed in 2022 against 18.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 143 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.1% | 107 |
| 3 | Tyres | 5.3% | 93 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.8% | 31 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.7% | 30 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.3% | 22 |
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 | 140 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 55 |
| 3 | Brake pads | 48 |
| 4 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 43 |
| 5 | Anti-lock braking system | 39 |
| 6 | Electronic stability control | 32 |
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 | 23.3% | 406 |
| 2 | Brakes | 20.1% | 350 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.2% | 160 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 58 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.9% | 51 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.5% | 44 |
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 | 801 | 8.9% |
| 30-60k | 811 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 116 | 19.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 411 | 6.3% |
| 2023 | 422 | 11.4% |
| 2024 | 444 | 18.5% |
| 2025 | 441 | 18.4% |
What to check before buying a 2019 GS
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 8.2% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (8.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- 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.
- Tyres (5.3% 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
How many 2019 MG GSs pass their MOT?
86.2% of the 1,743 2019 MG GS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 13.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 MG GS?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.2% of tests, followed by brakes (6.1%).
Does the 2019 GS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.8% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,743 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.