MG MGF Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the MG MGF fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 14,010 MOT tests across 8 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol
74%
MG MGF pass rate
86%
MG average
82%
All-model average
The MG MGF has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, which is 12 points below the MG average and 8 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer MG MGFs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 4 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the MG MGF Fails Its MOT On
Of the 1,754 MOT tests on the MG MGF that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
37%Cars and vans the same age: 46% · Typical repair £15-£200
Brakes
35%Cars and vans the same age: 32% · Typical repair £80-£450
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
35%Cars and vans the same age: 19% (the MGF fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
Suspension
32%Cars and vans the same age: 35% · Typical repair £150-£600
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
20%Cars and vans the same age: 18% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (16% of failed tests, brakes)
- Petrol engine emissions: carbon monoxide over the maker's limit (15% of failed tests, exhaust, emissions and leaks)
- Petrol engine emissions: lambda reading outside the limits (10% of failed tests, exhaust, emissions and leaks)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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MG MGF Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each MGF year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
Passed more often than cars their age
- 2001: 76% passed, against 73% for all 2001 cars (3 points higher, 2,829 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
MG MGF Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
MG MGF Running Costs
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MG MGF FAQ
What are the most common MG MGF problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the MG MGF that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (37% of the 1,754 failed tests), brakes (35%) and exhaust, emissions and leaks (35%). The single most common fault was "Parking brake efficiency below requirements" (16%). Across 14,010 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 74% ended in a pass.
Is the MG MGF reliable?
The MG MGF has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, from 14,010 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 1 point of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which MG MGF years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 1996 (71% of 1,744 tests passed, against 77% for all 1996 cars) and the 1998 (72% of 2,749 tests passed, against 76% for all 1998 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2001 (76% of 2,829 tests passed, against 73% for all 2001 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common MG MGF faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a MG MGF typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other MG Models
Common problems pages for other MG models