MG MG4 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 4 model years and 5,769 tests, the MG MG4 passes its MOT 93.5% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 7.1%, so the MG4 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (4.8%) and lighting & signalling (2.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, tread depth and wipers — headlamp aim alone was recorded 196 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 4.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 15.9% once past 90-120k — 3.2× the risk.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 22.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 1.1% of tests failed in 2023 against 6.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every MG4 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3,262 | 92.8% | 7.2% | Tyres |
| 2023 | 2,340 | 94.1% | 5.9% | Tyres |
| 2024 | 164 | 97.6% | 2.4% | Tyres |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 4.8% | 279 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 2.6% | 148 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.0% | 114 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.3% | 16 |
| 6 | Brakes | 0.2% | 11 |
| 7 | Body, structure & corrosion | 0.1% | 8 |
| 8 | Steering | 0.1% | 4 |
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 | 196 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 156 |
| 3 | Wipers | 73 |
| 4 | Washers | 51 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 26 |
| 6 | Coil spring | 20 |
| 7 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 9 |
| 8 | Individual direction indicators | 7 |
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 | 22.5% | 1,300 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.6% | 379 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 291 |
| 4 | Suspension | 3.4% | 195 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 142 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 0.4% | 23 |
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 | 3,469 | 4.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,923 | 8.7% |
| 60-90k | 333 | 9.6% |
| 90-120k | 44 | 15.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 90 | 1.1% |
| 2024 | 996 | 5.5% |
| 2025 | 4,679 | 6.9% |
What to check before buying a MG MG4
- Tyres (4.8% 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 (2.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (2.0% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£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 MG4?
93.5% of the 5,769 MG MG4 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 6.5% fail rate, across model years 2022–2025.
What does the MG MG4 most often fail its MOT on?
Tyres, recorded in 4.8% of tests, then lighting & signalling (2.6%).
How much does mileage affect MG4 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 4.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 15.9% for 90-120k, a 11.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,769 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.