Common problems
MG ZR common problems
What MOT testers find on the MG ZR: the parts that fail or get advisories most often at each age, against all cars of the same age. From 7,005 DVSA MOT tests taken 2022 to 2025.
MOT data updated
At 19 years, the most tested age
What stands out
- Body and structure fails show up on 13.1 of every 100 MOTs of a MG ZR at 19 years old (n=2,002), against 9.0 for all cars of that age (n=2,479,858).
- Suspension fails are less common: 7.6 per 100 MOTs against 16.9 for all cars at the same age.
- The fail item testers record most often at 19 years: driveshaft CV boot split, on 6.3 per 100 MOTs (all cars 3.2).
- The most common advisory or minor defect: tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge, on 11.9 per 100 MOTs.
Problems by part at 19 years
How many of every 100 MOTs found a fail, or an advisory or minor defect, in each area. A test with faults in two areas counts in both.
| Area | Fails | All cars | Advisories | All cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 18.6 | 21.5 | 14.4 | 17.9 |
| Body and structure | 13.1 | 9.0 | 19.6 | 15.2 |
| Brakes | 10.4 | 13.3 | 20.8 | 33.3 |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 7.7 | 7.0 | 10.4 | 14.7 |
| Suspension | 7.6 | 16.9 | 19.8 | 35.4 |
| Tyres | 5.8 | 6.8 | 23.7 | 26.9 |
| Windscreen, wipers and mirrors | 5.6 | 7.5 | 4.6 | 6.3 |
| Steering | 3.5 | 4.1 | 11.7 | 6.0 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 2.7 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 1.4 |
| Number plates and VIN | 0.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 5.9 |
| Road wheels | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
What testers fail most on the ZR at 19 years
| Item | Area | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | Typical repair (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driveshaft CV boot split | Body and structure | 6.3 | 3.2 | £88 to £196 per boot (rough guide) |
| Side/position light not working | Lights and electrics | 4.5 | 5.4 | £10 to £47 per lamp |
| Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases | Body and structure | 4.0 | 2.1 | £182 to £263 per section |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength | Suspension | 3.8 | 2.6 | |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect | Lights and electrics | 2.9 | 4.1 | £16 to £39 per car (rough guide) |
| Wipers not clearing screen | Windscreen, wipers and mirrors | 2.8 | 3.3 | £15 to £30 per blade |
| Brake light not working | Lights and electrics | 2.8 | 4.0 | £10 to £47 per lamp |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding | Brakes | 2.3 | 1.5 | £55 to £267 per wheel (rough guide) |
| Steering track rod end: ball joint play | Steering | 2.3 | 2.0 | £54 to £128 per side (rough guide) |
| Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits | Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 2.3 | 1.4 |
Early warnings: advisories and minor defects at 19 years
Advisories and minor defects are recorded, but the car still passes. Across all cars, a part with an advisory or minor defect failed at the next MOT 5.5 times in 100 (n=88,666,940 pairs of consecutive MOTs), against 0.3 times in 100 when the same part had none (n=12,936,860,350).
| Item | Area | Per 100 MOTs | All cars | If it needs replacing (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge | Tyres | 11.9 | 16.6 | £88 to £145 per tyre |
| Tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing | Tyres | 10.9 | 9.9 | £88 to £145 per tyre |
| Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive | Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 9.0 | 13.2 | |
| Drive shaft joints: constant velocity boot severely deteriorated | Body and structure | 7.1 | 3.9 | |
| Exhaust system: has a minor leak of exhaust gases | Body and structure | 7.0 | 5.3 | £182 to £263 per section |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened | Brakes | 6.4 | 10.8 | £148 to £376 per axle (rough guide) |
| Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive | Suspension | 4.9 | 3.1 | |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material | Brakes | 4.8 | 14.1 | £137 to £392 per car (rough guide) |
| Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | Lights and electrics | 4.7 | 5.6 | |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively | Brakes | 4.5 | 2.6 | £55 to £267 per wheel (rough guide) |
Repair estimates are a guide for an independent garage: labour at the national median local garage rate (median £78 an hour from 65 garages, ONS price quotes) times estimated labour hours, plus a parts band. Labour hours and most parts bands are estimates, not quotes, and prices vary by model, engine and region. A warning light fault shows the cost of the diagnosis only.
How problems change with age
| Age | Tests (n) | Lights and electrics | Body and structure | Brakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 years | 1,528 | 20.1 | 12.4 | 8.4 |
| 19 years | 2,002 | 18.6 | 13.1 | 10.4 |
| 20 years | 1,995 | 17.0 | 12.5 | 11.6 |
| 21 years | 1,480 | 15.5 | 10.4 | 10.9 |
What to check on a viewing
On the MG ZR, testers most often record driveshaft CV boot split; side/position light not working; exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases. Look at these first, then the areas below.
Lights and electrics
- With someone outside, try every light: dipped and main beam, indicators, brake lights, fog lights and number plate lamps.
- Check that the warning lights come on with the ignition and go out once the engine runs.
- Look for misted, cracked or yellowed headlamp lenses.
Body and structure
- Look underneath at the sills, floor, subframes and jacking points for corrosion, or for fresh underseal that may hide it.
- Check that doors, bonnet and boot open, close and latch properly.
- Look for loose trim, sharp edges or damage around the bumpers and wheel arches.
Brakes
- On the test drive the car should stop in a straight line without pulling, juddering or grinding.
- Look at the discs through the wheels for a deep lip, heavy rust or scoring.
- Check that the handbrake or electronic parking brake holds the car on a slope.
- Ask when the pads, discs and brake fluid were last changed, and for the receipts.
Ask for the car's MOT history and service record: advisories that repeat from one year to the next show what has been left. GOV.UK MOT history.
Questions
What are the most common problems on the MG ZR?
At 19 years, the age with the most MOT tests (2,002), the fail items testers record most often on the MG ZR are driveshaft CV boot split (6.3 per 100 MOTs), side/position light not working (4.5 per 100 MOTs), exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases (4.0 per 100 MOTs). The most common advisories or minor defects are tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (11.9) and tyre condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (10.9).
Which parts of the MG ZR fail more often than on other cars?
At 19 years: body and structure (13.1 per 100 MOTs against 9.0 for all cars). Compared with 2,479,858 MOTs of all cars the same age.
MG ZR problems by area
More on the MG ZR
Other MG models
The all cars figures cover all class 4 vehicles (cars and light vans) tested at the same age.
Looking at a MG ZR?
These figures describe the model, not the car in front of you. Found one you might buy? See what the VetTheCar Buying Report covers, or use the tools that work without a registration.
See a sample report Car tools · MOT fail rates by model · Compare models by MOT record
Repair estimates: ONS consumer price quotes for local garage labour (09/2025 to 08/2026), the MOT inspection manual for defect wording, and estimated labour hours and parts bands. Not affiliated with or endorsed by ONS.
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 28 September 2026.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. How we calculate these figures · Data sources