2015 MG MG3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2015 MG MG3 passed 81.5% of its 14,174 recorded MOT tests. Superminis of a similar age fail at 17.5%, so the 2015 MG3 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.3%) and tyres (6.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are srs malfunction indicator lamp, pins and bushes and wipers — srs malfunction indicator lamp alone was recorded 698 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 28.4% once past 120-150k — 2.3× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 15.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.3% | 887 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.0% | 847 |
| 3 | Suspension | 5.6% | 789 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.1% | 728 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 713 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.0% | 703 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 698 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 621 |
| 3 | Wipers | 517 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 395 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 394 |
| 6 | Washers | 339 |
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 | 28.0% | 3,970 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.7% | 3,647 |
| 3 | Brakes | 22.9% | 3,252 |
| 4 | Other defects | 7.8% | 1,113 |
| 5 | Visibility | 3.5% | 500 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.4% | 484 |
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 | 3,327 | 12.6% |
| 30-60k | 7,385 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 2,833 | 23.6% |
| 90-120k | 536 | 28.0% |
| 120-150k | 67 | 28.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,818 | 15.3% |
| 2022 | 2,829 | 15.9% |
| 2023 | 2,869 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 2,875 | 21.0% |
| 2025 | 2,783 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2015 MG3
On a 2015 MG3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.0% 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.
- Suspension (5.6% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2015 MG MG3s pass their MOT?
81.5% of the 14,174 2015 MG MG3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 18.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2015 MG MG3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.3% of tests, followed by tyres (6.0%).
Does the 2015 MG3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.6% in the 0-30k band to 28.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,174 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.