Small car · 2001–2011 cars
MG ZR reliability
The MG ZR fails 37.5% of first MOT tests, 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 7,814 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a MG ZR before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 37.5%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 7% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 7,814
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the MG ZR ages
Each point is the share of MG ZRs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | MG ZR | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 35% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 38% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 36.7% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 38.7% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 37.7% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 36.1% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 34.4% | 40.6% |
By year
The best and worst MG ZR years
2005 cars come out best and 2002 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 223 | 38.1% | 4% fewer fails | 76,622 |
| 2005 ZR | 1,689 | 35.3% | 12% fewer fails | 78,423 |
| 2004 ZR | 2,623 | 38.7% | 5% fewer fails | 79,729 |
| 2003 ZR | 1,952 | 37.3% | 7% fewer fails | 82,750 |
| 2002 ZR | 1,021 | 39.1% | 3% fewer fails | 80,113 |
| 2001 | 294 | 33.3% | 15% fewer fails | 79,143 |
Common problems
What fails most on a MG ZR
Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 52% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics18.2%5% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure12.2%52% above avg
- Brakes11%7% below avg
- Suspension8.6%41% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.1%28% above avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors5.5%25% below avg
- Tyres5.4%11% below avg
- Steering3.5%5% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.4%31% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure 5.71% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 4.47% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Position lamp not working 3.58% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Exhaust has major gas leak 2.98% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 5
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 2.67% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 6
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.66% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 7
Stop lamp not working 2.46% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 8
Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.39% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a MG ZR's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.05%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking9.56%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive8.83%
- Brake disc pitted or scored6.14%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak6.05%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy5.37%
Before you buy
What to check on a used MG ZR
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 4
Exhaust has major gas leak
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol90.4%
- Diesel9.6%
Most common colours
Blue, Grey, Red, Silver, Yellow
Average engine size: 1.6 litres.
Compare
How the MG ZR compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Vitz | 12.6% | 50% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Cube | 29.3% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan Figaro | 36.7% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MG ZR | 37.5% | 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Toyota Starlet | 34.6% | 3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Accent | 46.1% | 21% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Chevrolet Kalos | 53.6% | 44% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all MG models.
Questions
MG ZR questions, answered
Is the MG ZR reliable?
On MOT results, the MG ZR is about average: it fails 37.5% of first MOT tests, 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 10 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a MG ZR MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the MG ZR are cv joint boot split or insecure (5.71% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (4.47% of tests), position lamp not working (3.58% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 18.2% of its tests.
Which MG ZR year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2005 cars do best (12% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2002 cars do worst (3% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a MG ZR before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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