2005 MG ZR — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,217 MOT tests, the 2005 MG ZR recorded a 75.7% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.8% of the time, so this is 3.5pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Lighting & signalling dominates the failure mix at 17.2% of all tests — 7.5 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, joints and catalyst emissions — headlamp aim alone was recorded 259 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 15.5% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.4% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 24.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.0% in 2021 to 21.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 17.2% | 554 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.7% | 311 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 229 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.6% | 211 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.5% | 210 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.9% | 156 |
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 | 259 |
| 2 | Joints | 193 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 178 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 159 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 148 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 145 |
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 | 24.6% | 793 |
| 2 | Tyres | 22.7% | 731 |
| 3 | Brakes | 20.0% | 642 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.7% | 633 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 16.7% | 538 |
| 6 | Steering | 15.0% | 484 |
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 | 148 | 15.5% |
| 30-60k | 759 | 20.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,168 | 24.7% |
| 90-120k | 755 | 26.9% |
| 120-150k | 259 | 29.3% |
| 150k+ | 125 | 30.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,963 | 24.1% |
| Diesel | 254 | 27.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 919 | 26.0% |
| 2022 | 747 | 24.2% |
| 2023 | 631 | 25.7% |
| 2024 | 502 | 22.5% |
| 2025 | 418 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 2005 ZR
On a 2005 ZR, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 17.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (17.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.7% 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+.
- Brakes (7.1% 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 2005 MG ZRs pass their MOT?
75.7% of the 3,217 2005 MG ZR MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 MG ZR?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 17.2% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.7%).
Does the 2005 ZR get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.5% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,217 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.