Microcar Mgo MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 17 model years and 879 tests, the Microcar Mgo passes its MOT 80.0% of the time. That is 3.5 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.5%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, suspension and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 10.8% of all tests — 4.0 points clear of suspension, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and steering rack — service brake performance alone was recorded 63 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 32.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 19.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 22.5% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every Mgo model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 110 | 82.7% | 17.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2010 | 310 | 82.3% | 17.7% | Brakes |
| 2011 | 252 | 80.6% | 19.4% | Brakes |
| 2012 | 132 | 76.5% | 23.5% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 10.8% | 95 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.8% | 60 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 6.7% | 59 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 56 |
| 5 | Steering | 4.1% | 36 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.5% | 31 |
| 7 | Emissions & environmental | 3.3% | 29 |
| 8 | Tyres | 1.6% | 14 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 63 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 36 |
| 3 | Steering rack | 34 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 34 |
| 5 | Wheel bearings | 29 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 28 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 24 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 23 |
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 | 32.2% | 283 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.9% | 254 |
| 3 | Tyres | 16.6% | 146 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.3% | 108 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 9.6% | 84 |
| 6 | Other defects | 6.3% | 55 |
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 | 643 | 18.5% |
| 30-60k | 224 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 243 | 19.3% |
| 2022 | 206 | 20.9% |
| 2023 | 176 | 18.8% |
| 2024 | 134 | 19.4% |
| 2025 | 120 | 22.5% |
What to check before buying a Microcar Mgo
- Brakes (10.8% 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.
- Suspension (6.8% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (6.7% 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 Microcar Mgo?
80.0% of the 879 Microcar Mgo MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 20.0% fail rate, across model years 2001–2017.
What does the Microcar Mgo most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 10.8% of tests, then suspension (6.8%).
Methodology & source. Based on 879 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.