MG HS MOT pass rate & common failures
The MG HS appears in 52,392 MOT tests spanning model years 2019–2025, and 92.3% of them passed. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (7.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are tyres, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.2%) and brakes (2.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, brake pads and washers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,209 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.0% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.0% once past 90-120k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 1.9pp more often than hybrid ones (8.0% vs 6.0%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 19.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 4.6% of tests failed in 2022 against 7.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every HS model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 414 | 92.3% | 7.7% | Tyres |
| 2020 | 9,965 | 92.1% | 7.9% | Brakes |
| 2021 | 17,938 | 92.7% | 7.3% | Tyres |
| 2022 | 21,257 | 91.8% | 8.2% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 2,496 | 93.9% | 6.1% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 292 | 98.6% | 1.4% | Visibility |
| 2025 | 30 | 100.0% | 0.0% | - |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.2% | 1,693 |
| 2 | Brakes | 2.7% | 1,404 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 2.4% | 1,269 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.0% | 1,028 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 286 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 217 |
| 7 | Other defects | 0.3% | 162 |
| 8 | Suspension | 0.3% | 145 |
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 | 1,209 |
| 2 | Brake pads | 1,029 |
| 3 | Washers | 851 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 690 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 628 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 340 |
| 7 | Wipers | 282 |
| 8 | Registration plates | 216 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 19.8% | 10,363 |
| 2 | Tyres | 11.5% | 6,030 |
| 3 | Other defects | 9.7% | 5,075 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.5% | 1,299 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.5% | 807 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 1.4% | 719 |
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 | 32,908 | 6.0% |
| 30-60k | 17,770 | 10.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,552 | 12.9% |
| 90-120k | 139 | 13.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 44,614 | 8.0% |
| Hybrid | 7,777 | 6.0% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 195 | 4.6% |
| 2023 | 3,839 | 7.0% |
| 2024 | 13,384 | 7.2% |
| 2025 | 34,970 | 7.9% |
What to check before buying a MG HS
- Tyres (3.2% 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.
- Brakes (2.7% 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 (2.4% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the MG HS?
92.3% of the 52,392 MG HS MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 7.7% fail rate, across model years 2019–2025.
What does the MG HS most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 3.2% of tests, then brakes (2.7%).
How much does mileage affect HS MOT results?
Fail rates run at 6.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 13.0% for 90-120k, a 7.0-point difference.
Is the hybrid or petrol HS more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the hybrid fails 6.0% of the time against 8.0% for the petrol. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 52,392 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.