Makes › MG › HS

MG HS reliability

C · Average

MOT pass rates and common problems from 76,549 MOT tests of cars first registered 2020–2023.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
88.3%pass first time
+0.4 ptsvs typical car
Beats 57%of cars
76,549MOT tests

Verdict

The MG HS passes its MOT first time on 88.3% of tests, about the same as a typical car of the same age and mileage (87.9%). That puts it ahead of 57% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2021 HS does best (beats 67% of cars) and the 2022 worst (beats 48%).

Better than average on tyres.

Watch these weak spots

Brakes1.8×as often as a typical car
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)4.5×as often as a typical car
Windscreen washers2.0×as often as a typical car
Brake discs4.4×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.

82%84%86%88%90%92%345688%89%87%86%
MG HSTypical 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.

2020
Beats 63%
2021
Beats 67%
2022
Beats 48%
2023
Beats 37%

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 Petrol2020–202366,88388.0%Beats 50%C
1.5 Hybrid2021–20239,66690.2%Beats 86%A

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: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.5% 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: 0.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 0.8% 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: 2.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 2.5% 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: 3.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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: 3.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 1.7% 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: 2.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 2.5% 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.Lights0.0 ptsTyres: 3.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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+1.3 ptsBrakes: 3.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 1.7% 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−1.3 ptsSuspension: 0.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 0.8% 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+0.5 ptsExhaust: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.5% 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.Exhaust−0.2 ptsSuspension: 0.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 0.8% 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: 3.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 1.7% 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: 3.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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: 2.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 2.5% 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: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.5% 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: 2.6% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 2.5% 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.Lights0.0 ptsTyres: 3.8% of tests fail on tyres, against 5.0% 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+1.3 ptsBrakes: 3.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 1.7% 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−1.3 ptsSuspension: 0.3% of tests fail on suspension, against 0.8% 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+0.5 ptsExhaust: 0.6% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 0.5% 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.Exhaust−0.2 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Brakes: 3.0% of tests fail on brakes, against 1.7% 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.

Every MOT area

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

Tyres
3.8% vs 5.0%
Brakes
3.0% vs 1.7%
Lights & electrics
2.6% vs 2.5%
Visibility
2.4% vs 2.9%
Emissions & leaks
0.6% vs 0.5%
Seat belts & airbags
0.4% vs 0.3%
Suspension
0.3% vs 0.8%
Body & structure
0.2% vs 0.3%
Steering
0.1% vs 0.1%
Wheels
0.0% vs 0.1%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Tyre pressure warning (TPMS) 4.5× typical
    Make sure no tyre-pressure warning light stays on after start-up.
  • Windscreen washers 2.0× typical
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Brake discs 4.4× typical
    Look through the wheel spokes for scored discs or a heavy rust lip on the edge.
  • Brake pads 1.8× typical
    Ask when the pads were last replaced and look for a brake-wear warning on the dash.
  • Tyre damage & cracking
    Look for cuts, bulges and cracking on both sidewalls of every tyre.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

75%80%85%90%95%100%0k10k20k30k40k50k60k93%91%90%87%85%83%83%
MG HSTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Tyre damage & cracking1.9%3.6%0.5×
Windscreen washers1.9%0.9%2.0×
Brake pads1.8%1.0%1.8×
Headlight aim1.6%1.4%1.2×
Tyre pressure warning (TPMS)1.3%0.3%4.5×
Brake discs1.2%0.3%4.4×
Tyre tread depth0.7%1.3%0.5×
Engine warning light0.5%0.3%1.3×
Windscreen wipers0.4%2.0%0.2×
Seat belt condition0.4%0.2%1.9×

Specific defects found

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

Defectper 1,000
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen18.5
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements16.4
A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm16.1
A tyre seriously damaged15.0
A tyre pressure monitoring system malfunctioning or obviously inoperative13.0
Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn8.4
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements7.2
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction4.7
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 HS2 engines87.7% passD
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol8,07387.4%Beats 29%D
1.5 Hybrid1,00890.3%Beats 91%A
2022 MG HS2 engines88.2% passC
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol28,96087.9%Beats 42%C
1.5 Hybrid3,83490.3%Beats 83%A
2021 MG HS2 engines88.8% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol18,80488.4%Beats 62%B
1.5 Hybrid4,82490.2%Beats 87%A
2020 MG HS1 engine88.3% passB
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
1.5 Petrol11,04688.3%Beats 63%B

FAQ

What is the MG HS MOT pass rate?

88.3% of MOT tests on the MG HS were passed first time, based on 76,549 tests between 2022 and 2026 of cars first registered 2020–2023. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 87.9% of the time.

Is the MG HS reliable?

On MOT results it rates C (average): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 57% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which MG HS year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2021 HS does best for its age and mileage: it beats 67% of cars on UK roads. The 2022 does worst: it beats 48%.

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

The most common failure items are tyre damage & cracking, windscreen washers, brake pads. Compared with similar cars, tyre pressure warning (TPMS) comes up 4.5× 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.