MG ZT MOT pass rate & common failures
The MG ZT appears in 17,195 MOT tests spanning model years 2001–2021, and 73.0% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 28.0%, so the ZT sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (13.8%) and brakes (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rbt (sp) and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,209 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.5% once past 150k — 2.7× the risk.
The petrol cars hold up better: 25.0% fail against 29.9% for diesel, a 5.0-point gap across 17,189 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.7% in 2021 to 25.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every ZT model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 602 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Suspension |
| 2002 | 1,962 | 72.1% | 27.9% | Suspension |
| 2003 | 4,143 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Suspension |
| 2004 | 5,852 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 3,512 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Suspension |
| 2006 | 917 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Suspension |
| 2007 | 168 | 79.2% | 20.8% | Brakes |
| 2008 | 31 | 80.7% | 19.4% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 13.8% | 2,368 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.4% | 2,135 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 2,047 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.5% | 944 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 4.9% | 837 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.5% | 769 |
| 7 | Visibility | 4.1% | 707 |
| 8 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 618 |
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 | 1,209 |
| 2 | Rbt (sp) | 1,012 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,002 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 845 |
| 5 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 778 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 687 |
| 7 | Ball joint | 542 |
| 8 | Linkage ball joint dust cover | 467 |
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 | 35.1% | 6,040 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.8% | 5,640 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.4% | 3,681 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 2,585 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 1,786 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.2% | 1,407 |
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 | 390 | 11.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,974 | 18.5% |
| 60-90k | 4,065 | 26.0% |
| 90-120k | 4,373 | 29.0% |
| 120-150k | 3,244 | 29.4% |
| 150k+ | 3,125 | 30.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 10,115 | 25.0% |
| Diesel | 7,074 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,671 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 3,951 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 3,401 | 26.9% |
| 2024 | 2,777 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 2,395 | 25.2% |
What to check before buying a MG ZT
- Suspension (13.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (12.4% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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
What is the MOT pass rate for the MG ZT?
73.0% of the 17,195 MG ZT MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.0% fail rate, across model years 2001–2021.
What does the MG ZT most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 13.8% of tests, then brakes (12.4%).
How much does mileage affect ZT MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.3% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.5% for 150k+, a 19.2-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel ZT more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 25.0% of the time against 29.9% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,195 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.