MOT fail rates
MG TF MOT fail rate by age
How often the MG TF fails its MOT at each age, compared with all cars of the same age, and what it fails on. From 36,093 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 20 years, the most tested age
23 of 201 model groups with enough tests fail less often at 20 years.
What stands out
- At 17 years the MG TF fails 28.3% of MOTs (1,897 tests), 14.8 points below the 43.1% for all cars that age. At 23 years it fails 30.1% (1,657 tests), 9.6 points below the 39.6% average.
- The gap is widest at 17 years: 14.8 points below all cars.
- Its most common structural or mechanical fail item at 20 years: Handbrake too weak, at 4.9 per 100 MOTs.
MOT fail rate by age
Solid line: this model. Dashed line: all cars at the same age.
| Age | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars | Difference | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 years | 28.3% | 1,897 | 43.1% | −14.8 pts | 50,328 miles |
| 18 years | 30.6% | 4,733 | 43.3% | −12.6 pts | 54,928 miles |
| 19 years | 31.8% | 7,588 | 43.2% | −11.4 pts | 57,305 miles |
| 20 years | 30.7% | 8,863 | 42.8% | −12.1 pts | 58,546 miles |
| 21 years | 31.1% | 7,018 | 42.1% | −10.9 pts | 59,260 miles |
| 22 years | 33.1% | 4,337 | 41.0% | −7.9 pts | 60,841 miles |
| 23 years | 30.1% | 1,657 | 39.6% | −9.6 pts | 62,109 miles |
Most common fail items at 20 years
Split into structural or mechanical items and wear items. Wear items (tyres, brake pads, wipers, bulbs) say more about upkeep than about the design.
Structural and mechanical
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Handbrake too weak Major | 4.9 |
| Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened Major | 3 |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play Major | 3 |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Major | 2.6 |
| Suspension ball joint worn Major | 2.4 |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Major | 2.2 |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Major | 2.1 |
Out of 8,863 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Wear and upkeep
| Fail item | Per 100 MOTs |
|---|---|
| Wipers not clearing screen Major | 3.1 |
| Horn: not working Major | 2.7 |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Major | 2.3 |
Out of 8,863 MOTs. A test with two faults counts twice.
Other models at 20 years
| Model | MOT fail rate | Tests (n) | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 45.7% | 71,656 | 42.8% |
| Volkswagen Golf | 44.6% | 68,838 | 42.8% |
| MINI Cooper and One | 45.7% | 66,365 | 42.8% |
MOT fail rate by first-use year
Each year has its own page: the fail rate for cars first used that year at each MOT from 2022 to 2025 with at least 1,000 tests, the most common faults at that age, and the car tax and ULEZ rules for that year.
First-use year data updated .
More on the MG TF
Looking at one MG TF?
These are figures for the model, not for one car. The VetTheCar Buying Report looks at a single car: its MOT tests, defects, advisories and mileage readings.
Source
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025. MOT data updated 22 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources