MG Midget MOT failures and reliability

In 2023 the MG Midget took 1,079 MOT tests in Britain and passed 78% of them first time, above the national average of 71% for all cars. The figures below come from the DVSA's record of every test, so they show what testers actually found on these cars rather than what owners report.

MOT tests in 2023

1,079

First-time pass rate

78%

All cars

71%

What the Midget fails on

Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.

• Lights and electrics10.8% (all cars 11.3%)
• Brakes7.7% (all cars 6.8%)
• Suspension7.0% (all cars 9.0%)
• Visibility5.5% (all cars 4.8%)
• Exhaust and emissions4.5% (all cars 3.1%)
• Body and structure3.3% (all cars 3.5%)
• Steering1.8% (all cars 1.8%)
• Seat belts and airbags1.3% (all cars 1.0%)

Most common failure items

Share of tests on which each item was recorded.

1. Service brake imbalance: across an axle 3.3%
2. Non catalyst emissions: emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 3.1%
3. Horn: not working 2.9%
4. Washers: not working 2.7%
5. Stop lamp: all not working 2.1%
6. Position lamp: not working 2.1%
7. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength 1.6%
8. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements 1.6%

Most common advisories

1. Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 9.9%
2. Wheel bearings: has slight play 6.6%
3. Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s) 2.9%
4. Transmission oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 2.7%
5. Other suspension component, pins and bushes: pin or bush slightly worn 2.5%
6. Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 2.3%
7. Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 2.0%
8. Suspension arms, pins and bushes: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement 1.6%

Check a particular Midget

Model figures tell you what to look out for. To see one car's own MOT history, mileage and tax, enter its registration.

Other MG models

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

Source: Department for Transport, Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023, 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.