2021 Mg Zs Excite Ev — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 1,870 MOT tests analysed for the 2021 Mg Zs Excite Ev, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, tyres and visibility. Its pass rate of 89.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (91.3%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 17.0% in the 60-90k group versus 7.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 140 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.6% | 86 |
| 3 | Visibility | 2.1% | 39 |
| 4 | Suspension | 1.3% | 24 |
| 5 | Brakes | 1.1% | 20 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 0.5% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp | 165 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 3 | Tread depth | 28 |
| 4 | Wipers | 27 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim not tested | 21 |
| 6 | Washers | 20 |
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 | 22.0% | 411 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.1% | 208 |
| 3 | Other defects | 7.0% | 131 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.4% | 101 |
| 5 | Visibility | 2.5% | 47 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 1.5% | 28 |
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 | 1,159 | 7.1% |
| 30-60k | 644 | 15.7% |
| 60-90k | 59 | 17.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 39 | 5.1% |
| 2024 | 899 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 913 | 11.1% |
What to check before buying a 2021 Zs Excite Ev
Before buying a 2021 Mg Zs Excite Ev, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 7.5% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Tyres (4.6% 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.
- Visibility (2.1% 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 2021 Mg Zs Excite Evs pass their MOT?
89.6% of the 1,870 2021 Mg Zs Excite Ev MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2021 Mg Zs Excite Ev?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 7.5% of tests, followed by tyres (4.6%).
Does the 2021 Zs Excite Ev get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 7.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.0% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,870 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.