MG 5 Trophy MOT failures and reliability

The MG 5 Trophy is one of the stronger cars at the MOT: 91% of its 1,021 tests in 2025 were passed first time, 19 points better than the 72% for all cars. Half the MG 5 Trophy cars tested were registered in 2022 or later, and younger cars pass more often. That ranks it 1st of the 14 MG models we cover. Every figure here comes from the DVSA's record of each MG 5 Trophy MOT, so it shows what testers found rather than what owners report.

MOT tests in 2025

1,021

First-time pass rate

91%

All cars

72%

MG 5 Trophy MOT strengths and weak spots

The MG 5 Trophy fails less often than the average car in every area of the test we measure.

It does best on suspension, where 1.4% of MG 5 Trophy tests failed against 9.1% for all cars.

MG 5 Trophy cars first registered in 2023 passed 88% first time; those from 2022 passed 93%.

At 3 years old the average MG 5 Trophy had covered 30,464 miles, about 10,200 a year.

The single most common failure on the MG 5 Trophy was registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps, on 1.7% of tests.

What the MG 5 Trophy fails on

Share of MG 5 Trophy tests with at least one failure in each area, beside the figure for all cars.

• Tyres4.1% (all cars 6.3%)
• Lights and electrics3.1% (all cars 10.7%)
• Suspension1.4% (all cars 9.1%)
• Visibility0.9% (all cars 4.4%)
• Brakes0.3% (all cars 6.3%)
• Number plates and VIN0.1% (all cars 0.3%)
• Steering0.1% (all cars 2.0%)
• Body and structure0.1% (all cars 3.3%)

Most common failure items

Share of tests on which each item was recorded.

1. Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps 1.7%
2. Tyres, condition: has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords 1.6%
3. Tread depth: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1.1%
4. Tyres, condition: has ply or cords exposed 1.0%
5. Shock absorbers: has a serious fluid leak 0.8%
6. Stop lamp: not working 0.7%
7. Tyre pressure monitoring system: malfunctioning or obviously inoperative 0.6%
8. Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 0.6%

Most common advisories

1. Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 14.2%
2. Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement 4.0%
3. Shock absorbers: has light misting of oil 3.6%
4. Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre 2.1%
5. Tyres, condition: has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords 2.1%
6. Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 2.0%
7. Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 1.9%
8. Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt 1.4%

Pass rate by year of registration

First-time pass rate of the MG 5 Trophy by the year it was first registered.

Check a particular MG 5 Trophy

The figures above tell you what to look out for on any MG 5 Trophy. For one MG 5 Trophy's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration for a free MOT check.

Other MG models

• MG ZS
• MG 3
• MG HS
• MG HS Excite
• MG TF
• MG MGF
• MG B
• MG 5 Excite
• MG GS
• MG 4 Trophy
• MG ZT
• MG ZR
• MG 6

Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025, cars and light vans, normal tests only. Pass rates are first-time passes; a pass after repair at the test station counts as a fail. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.