2011 Microcar Mgo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 252 MOT tests, the 2011 Microcar Mgo recorded an 80.6% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 22.7% of the time, so this is 3.3pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 11.1% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — service brake performance alone was recorded 25 times.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 31.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 16.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 20.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 11.1% | 28 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 5.9% | 15 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 14 |
| 4 | Suspension | 4.4% | 11 |
| 5 | Steering | 3.6% | 9 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.6% | 9 |
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 | 25 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 10 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 10 |
| 5 | Joints | 9 |
| 6 | Steering rack | 9 |
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 | 31.4% | 79 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.2% | 76 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.4% | 54 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.3% | 41 |
| 5 | Other defects | 6.8% | 17 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 6.3% | 16 |
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 | 175 | 16.6% |
| 30-60k | 75 | 26.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | 16.9% |
| 2022 | 57 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 50 | 16.0% |
| 2024 | 39 | 20.5% |
| 2025 | 35 | 20.0% |
What to check before buying a 2011 Mgo
On a 2011 Mgo, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (11.1% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (5.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (5.6% 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 2011 Microcar Mgos pass their MOT?
80.6% of the 252 2011 Microcar Mgo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 19.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2011 Microcar Mgo?
Brakes, recorded in 11.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (5.9%).
Does the 2011 Mgo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.6% in the 0-30k band to 26.7% in the 30-60k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 252 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.