2019 MG MG3 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2019 MG MG3 passed 88.3% of its 16,406 recorded MOT tests. Against superminis of a similar age (10.1% fail rate), the 2019 MG3 comes out 1.6pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, tyres and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (6.7%) and tyres (6.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, stop lamp and tread depth — headlamp aim alone was recorded 831 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 26.5% versus 8.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 22.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 7.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 15.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 1,106 |
| 2 | Tyres | 6.6% | 1,088 |
| 3 | Brakes | 3.3% | 545 |
| 4 | Visibility | 2.6% | 421 |
| 5 | Suspension | 1.0% | 158 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 0.5% | 85 |
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 | 831 |
| 2 | Stop lamp | 373 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 291 |
| 4 | Wipers | 278 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 248 |
| 6 | Brake pads | 220 |
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 | 22.8% | 3,734 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.8% | 2,261 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.5% | 1,059 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.3% | 540 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.7% | 443 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.0% | 168 |
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 | 10,960 | 8.6% |
| 30-60k | 4,895 | 17.5% |
| 60-90k | 460 | 22.8% |
| 90-120k | 49 | 26.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 164 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 3,883 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 4,072 | 10.3% |
| 2024 | 4,070 | 12.8% |
| 2025 | 4,217 | 15.6% |
What to check before buying a 2019 MG3
On a 2019 MG3, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 6.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (6.6% 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 (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.
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 MG3s pass their MOT?
88.3% of the 16,406 2019 MG MG3 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 11.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2019 MG MG3?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 6.7% of tests, followed by tyres (6.6%).
Does the 2019 MG3 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.6% in the 0-30k band to 26.5% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 16,406 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.