2010 Microcar Mgo — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2010 Microcar Mgo passed 82.3% of its 310 recorded MOT tests. That is 6.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.1%. Failures cluster in brakes, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (6.8%) and suspension (6.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are wheel bearings, steering rack and service brake performance — wheel bearings alone was recorded 13 times.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 18.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.8% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 6.8% | 21 |
| 2 | Suspension | 6.5% | 20 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.8% | 18 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 5.2% | 16 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.5% | 14 |
| 6 | Steering | 4.2% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wheel bearings | 13 |
| 2 | Steering rack | 12 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 10 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 9 |
| 5 | Shock absorbers | 8 |
| 6 | Wipers | 8 |
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 | 33.2% | 103 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.5% | 79 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.5% | 45 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 36 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 35 |
| 6 | Other defects | 3.5% | 11 |
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 | 225 | 16.9% |
| 30-60k | 82 | 19.5% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 18.3% |
| 2022 | 72 | 13.9% |
| 2023 | 64 | 17.2% |
| 2024 | 50 | 18.0% |
| 2025 | 42 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 2010 Mgo
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 6.8% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (6.8% 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 (6.5% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.8% 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 2010 Microcar Mgos pass their MOT?
82.3% of the 310 2010 Microcar Mgo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 17.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2010 Microcar Mgo?
Brakes, recorded in 6.8% of tests, followed by suspension (6.5%).
Does the 2010 Mgo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.9% in the 0-30k band to 19.5% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 310 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.