2020 MG MG5 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2020 MG MG5 passed 92.3% of its 987 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 9.1% of the time, so this is 1.4pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in tyres, lighting & signalling and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — tyres (5.7%) and lighting & signalling (5.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are tread depth, headlamp aim and headlamp — tread depth alone was recorded 37 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 10.2% versus 4.6%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 27.0% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 5.4% 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 | Tyres | 5.7% | 56 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.5% | 54 |
| 3 | Visibility | 0.8% | 8 |
| 4 | Suspension | 0.4% | 4 |
| 5 | Brakes | 0.3% | 3 |
| 6 | Road wheels | 0.2% | 2 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tread depth | 37 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 26 |
| 4 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 14 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 13 |
| 6 | Tyre pressure monitoring system | 5 |
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 | 27.0% | 266 |
| 2 | Brakes | 6.3% | 62 |
| 3 | Other defects | 6.2% | 61 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 2.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Visibility | 1.8% | 18 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.5% | 15 |
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 | 305 | 4.6% |
| 30-60k | 447 | 7.6% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 12.1% |
| 90-120k | 59 | 10.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 56 | 5.4% |
| 2023 | 286 | 5.9% |
| 2024 | 319 | 8.8% |
| 2025 | 305 | 9.2% |
What to check before buying a 2020 MG5
On a 2020 MG5, tyres is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 5.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Tyres (5.7% 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 (5.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Visibility (0.8% 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
How many 2020 MG MG5s pass their MOT?
92.3% of the 987 2020 MG MG5 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 7.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2020 MG MG5?
Tyres, recorded in 5.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.5%).
Does the 2020 MG5 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 4.6% in the 0-30k band to 10.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 987 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.