MG TF Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the MG TF 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 16,132 MOT tests across 10 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: family car | Fuel: Petrol
78%
MG TF pass rate
86%
MG average
82%
All-model average
The MG TF has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, which is 8 points below the MG average and 4 points below the average across all models in our data. Newer MG TFs pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 5 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the MG TF Fails Its MOT On
Of the 2,628 MOT tests on the MG TF 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.
Brakes
34%Cars and vans the same age: 30% · Typical repair £80-£450
Lights and electrics
33%Cars and vans the same age: 50% (the TF fails on this less often) · Typical repair £15-£200
Suspension
30%Cars and vans the same age: 38% (the TF fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Exhaust, emissions and leaks
25%Cars and vans the same age: 17% (the TF fails on this more often) · Typical repair £80-£800
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
20%Cars and vans the same age: 17% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Parking brake efficiency below requirements (16% of failed tests, brakes)
- Horn: not working (8.6% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (8% of failed tests, steering)
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 TF 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 TF 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
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
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 TF 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 TF Running Costs
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MG TF FAQ
What are the most common MG TF problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the MG TF that failed at the first attempt most often failed on brakes (34% of the 2,628 failed tests), lights and electrics (33%) and suspension (30%). The single most common fault was "Parking brake efficiency below requirements" (16%). Across 16,132 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 78% ended in a pass.
Is the MG TF reliable?
The MG TF has an average MOT pass rate of 78%, from 16,132 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 5 points more often on average, a better than average result for its age.
Which MG TF years should I avoid?
No MG TF year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2004 (78% of 4,488 tests passed, against 72% for all 2004 cars), the 2005 (79% of 2,127 tests passed, against 73% for all 2005 cars) and the 2003 (77% of 4,716 tests passed, against 72% for all 2003 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 TF faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a MG TF 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