1998 MG MGF — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 MG MGF passed 73.0% of its 5,820 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.6%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.7%) and emissions & environmental (10.7%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, rbt (sp) and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 966 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 12.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.3% once past 120-150k — 2.9× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 29.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.5% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 681 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 10.7% | 625 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 616 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.8% | 569 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.8% | 335 |
| 6 | Steering | 3.9% | 224 |
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 | 966 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 340 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 263 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 261 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 214 |
| 6 | Washers | 211 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 29.3% | 1,706 |
| 2 | Brakes | 27.5% | 1,603 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.3% | 950 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.3% | 655 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 474 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.7% | 390 |
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 | 385 | 12.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,678 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 2,503 | 29.7% |
| 90-120k | 1,055 | 32.5% |
| 120-150k | 185 | 37.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,419 | 28.5% |
| 2022 | 1,280 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 1,166 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 1,011 | 26.8% |
| 2025 | 944 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a 1998 MGF
On a 1998 MGF, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (10.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (10.6% 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 1998 MG MGFs pass their MOT?
73.0% of the 5,820 1998 MG MGF MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 MG MGF?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (10.7%).
Does the 1998 MGF get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.7% in the 0-30k band to 37.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,820 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.