Makes › MG › 3

MG 3 reliability

E · Poor

MOT pass rates and common problems from 137,881 MOT tests of cars first registered 2013–2023.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
77.2%pass first time
−7.1 ptsvs typical car
Beats 4%of cars
137,881MOT tests

Verdict

The MG 3 passes its MOT first time on 77.2% of tests, 7.1 points lower than a typical car of the same age and mileage (84.3%). That puts it ahead of 4% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2016 3 does best (beats 6% of cars) and the 2015 worst (beats 6%).

Watch these weak spots

Tyres1.5×as often as a typical car
Lights & electrics1.6×as often as a typical car
Airbag warning light14.0×as often as a typical car
Headlight aim2.0×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

60%70%80%90%100%345678910111284%79%74%70%65%
MG 3Typical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2013
Beats 25%
2014
Beats 13%
2015
Beats 6%
2016
Beats 6%
2017
Beats 2%
2018
Beats 1%
2019
Beats 1%
2020
Beats 0%
2021
Beats 1%
2022
Beats 4%
2023
Beats 0%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol2013–2023137,88177.2%Beats 4%E

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 4.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 6.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 4.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 6.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−2.6 ptsTyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−2.2 ptsBrakes: 4.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.1 ptsSuspension: 4.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−1.4 ptsExhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust0.0 ptsSuspension: 4.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 4.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 6.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 6.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights−2.6 ptsTyres: 7.0% of tests fail on tyres, against 4.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres−2.2 ptsBrakes: 4.8% of tests fail on brakes, against 2.7% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes−2.1 ptsSuspension: 4.0% of tests fail on suspension, against 2.6% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension−1.4 ptsExhaust: 0.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 1.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust0.0 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Lights: 6.7% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 4.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Tyres
7.0% vs 4.7%
Lights & electrics
6.7% vs 4.1%
Brakes
4.8% vs 2.7%
Visibility
4.6% vs 3.3%
Suspension
4.0% vs 2.6%
Seat belts & airbags
2.2% vs 0.3%
Emissions & leaks
0.9% vs 1.0%
Steering
0.9% vs 0.5%
Body & structure
0.7% vs 0.8%
Wheels
0.1% vs 0.2%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Headlight aim 2.0× typical
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Suspension arm bushes 4.2× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Handbrake performance 5.1× typical
    Check the handbrake holds the car firmly on a slope.
  • Headlight bulbs & units 2.7× typical
    Check dipped and main beam on both sides.
  • Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) 2.7× typical
    Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.
  • Windscreen washers 1.7× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

50%60%70%80%90%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k91%81%71%64%61%
MG 3Typical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking4.0%2.9%1.4×
Headlight aim3.2%1.6%2.0×
Windscreen wipers2.6%2.0%1.3×
Windscreen washers2.0%1.2%1.7×
Airbag warning light1.9%0.1%14.0×
Tyre tread depth1.9%1.4%1.3×
Headlight bulbs & units1.7%0.6%2.7×
Suspension arm bushes1.5%0.4%4.2×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)1.4%0.5%2.7×
Brake pads1.4%1.3%1.1×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements32.0
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen25.6
A tyre seriously damaged21.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen19.6
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction19.2
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements18.6
A tyre cords visible or damaged18.4
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn17.3
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2023 MG 31 engine80.6% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol2,49180.6%Beats 0%E
2022 MG 31 engine84.6% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol7,95384.6%Beats 4%E
2021 MG 31 engine82.4% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol5,51082.4%Beats 1%E
2020 MG 31 engine81.1% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol9,47281.1%Beats 0%E
2019 MG 31 engine80.1% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol17,50680.1%Beats 1%E
2018 MG 31 engine77.4% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol14,84277.4%Beats 1%E
2017 MG 31 engine76.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol19,39776.0%Beats 2%E
2016 MG 31 engine76.2% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol23,95676.2%Beats 6%E
2015 MG 31 engine74.0% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol20,81174.0%Beats 6%E
2014 MG 31 engine72.6% passE
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol14,32172.6%Beats 13%E
2013 MG 31 engine71.8% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol1,62271.8%Beats 25%D

FAQ

What is the MG 3 MOT pass rate?

77.2% of MOT tests on the MG 3 were passed first time, based on 137,881 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2013–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 84.3% of the time.

Is the MG 3 reliable?

On MOT results it rates E (poor): it passes first time less often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 4% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which MG 3 year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2016 3 does best for its age and mileage: it beats 6% of cars on UK roads. The 2015 does worst: it beats 6%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the MG 3?

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, headlight aim, windscreen wipers. Compared with similar cars, airbag warning light comes up 14.0× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.