2020 MG HS — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 MG HS passed 92.1% of its 9,965 recorded MOT tests. Mid-size SUVs of a similar age fail at 8.8%, so the 2020 HS sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, tyres and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (3.3%) and tyres (3.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are brake pads, headlamp aim and washers — brake pads alone was recorded 244 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 6.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 13.6% once past 60-90k — 2.2× the risk.
Split by fuel, petrol examples fail 3.3pp more often than hybrid ones (8.1% vs 4.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 20.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 6.0% of tests failed in 2022 against 9.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 3.3% | 328 |
| 2 | Tyres | 3.0% | 300 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 1.9% | 193 |
| 4 | Visibility | 1.8% | 174 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 0.6% | 60 |
| 6 | Suspension | 0.3% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brake pads | 244 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 154 |
| 3 | Washers | 154 |
| 4 | Brake discs | 153 |
| 5 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 97 |
| 6 | Tread depth | 76 |
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 | 20.7% | 2,062 |
| 2 | Tyres | 14.9% | 1,484 |
| 3 | Other defects | 8.9% | 891 |
| 4 | Suspension | 2.3% | 232 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.2% | 222 |
| 6 | Visibility | 1.5% | 146 |
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 | 5,889 | 6.2% |
| 30-60k | 3,729 | 9.9% |
| 60-90k | 316 | 13.6% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 9,444 | 8.1% |
| Hybrid | 521 | 4.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 83 | 6.0% |
| 2023 | 3,304 | 7.4% |
| 2024 | 3,217 | 7.0% |
| 2025 | 3,361 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 HS
On a 2020 HS, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 3.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (3.3% 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 (3.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (1.9% 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 2020 MG HSs pass their MOT?
92.1% of the 9,965 2020 MG HS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 MG HS?
Brakes, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by tyres (3.0%).
Does the 2020 HS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 6.2% in the 0-30k band to 13.6% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 9,965 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.