2023 MG HS — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2023 MG HS passed 93.9% of its 2,496 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as mid-size SUVs of a similar age (5.5% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (3.3%) and lighting & signalling (3.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tyre pressure monitoring system and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 67 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 12.3% versus 4.5%.
Fuel type barely separates them — hybrid fails 5.7% of the time against 6.2% for petrol.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 12.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 3.3% | 82 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 3.2% | 79 |
| 3 | Brakes | 1.1% | 27 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 0.8% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 0.7% | 18 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.4% | 11 |
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 | 67 |
| 2 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 43 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 26 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 21 |
| 5 | Washers | 18 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 14 |
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 | 12.0% | 299 |
| 2 | Tyres | 9.9% | 248 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.9% | 198 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 1.8% | 46 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.2% | 29 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.1% | 28 |
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 | 1,860 | 4.5% |
| 30-60k | 551 | 10.2% |
| 60-90k | 73 | 12.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,918 | 6.2% |
| Hybrid | 578 | 5.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 249 | 2.4% |
| 2025 | 2,235 | 6.5% |
What to check before buying a 2023 HS
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: tyres accounted for 3.3% of tests. Start there.
- Tyres (3.3% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (3.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (1.1% 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.
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 2023 MG HSs pass their MOT?
93.9% of the 2,496 2023 MG HS MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 6.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2023 MG HS?
Tyres, recorded in 3.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (3.2%).
Does the 2023 HS get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.5% in the 0-30k band to 12.3% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,496 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.