1995 MG MGF — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 425 MOT tests, the 1995 MG MGF recorded a 72.0% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 24.2% of the time, so this is 3.8pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.1%) and emissions & environmental (14.3%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 94 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.8% once past 120-150k — 2.1× the risk.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 25.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.1% | 64 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.3% | 61 |
| 3 | Brakes | 12.2% | 52 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.5% | 36 |
| 5 | Visibility | 8.0% | 34 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 3.1% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 94 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 26 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 23 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
| 6 | Wipers | 18 |
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 | 25.9% | 110 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.7% | 88 |
| 3 | Tyres | 13.4% | 57 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 9.4% | 40 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.5% | 36 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.5% | 36 |
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 | 39 | 17.9% |
| 30-60k | 116 | 27.6% |
| 60-90k | 134 | 28.4% |
| 90-120k | 94 | 27.7% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 37.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 86 | 24.4% |
| 2023 | 85 | 34.1% |
| 2024 | 87 | 26.4% |
| 2025 | 81 | 25.9% |
What to check before buying a 1995 MGF
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.1% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (14.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (12.2% 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 1995 MG MGFs pass their MOT?
72.0% of the 425 1995 MG MGF MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 MG MGF?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.1% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (14.3%).
Does the 1995 MGF get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.9% in the 0-30k band to 37.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 425 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.