2002 MG ZR — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,978 MOT tests, the 2002 MG ZR recorded a 74.1% pass rate. Against small family cars of a similar age (28.0% fail rate), the 2002 ZR comes out 2.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.4%) and brakes (11.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 187 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 12.0% in the 0-30k band and 27.4% in the 150k+ band, a 15.4-point spread — more than double.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 21.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.4% | 265 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.4% | 225 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.9% | 177 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.6% | 171 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.1% | 121 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.3% | 84 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 187 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 144 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 123 |
| 4 | Joints | 99 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 94 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 78 |
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 | 27.6% | 546 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.9% | 454 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.1% | 418 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 357 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 15.1% | 299 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.8% | 173 |
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 | 92 | 12.0% |
| 30-60k | 362 | 21.6% |
| 60-90k | 667 | 27.1% |
| 90-120k | 553 | 29.5% |
| 120-150k | 203 | 25.1% |
| 150k+ | 95 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,766 | 25.8% |
| Diesel | 212 | 26.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 551 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 467 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 363 | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 319 | 22.3% |
| 2025 | 278 | 21.9% |
What to check before buying a 2002 ZR
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.4% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.9% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
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 2002 MG ZRs pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 1,978 2002 MG ZR MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2002 MG ZR?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.4% of tests, followed by brakes (11.4%).
Does the 2002 ZR get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.0% in the 0-30k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,978 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.