MG TF MOT failures and reliability
In 2023 the MG TF took 10,097 MOT tests in Britain and passed 70% of them first time, close to 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
- 10,097
- First-time pass rate
- 70%
- All cars
- 71%
What the TF fails on
Share of tests with at least one failure in each area, against the figure for all cars.
- Brakes10.0% (all cars 6.8%)
- Lights and electrics9.9% (all cars 11.3%)
- Suspension9.8% (all cars 9.0%)
- Exhaust and emissions7.3% (all cars 3.1%)
- Visibility6.3% (all cars 4.8%)
- Body and structure3.7% (all cars 3.5%)
- Tyres3.5% (all cars 6.4%)
- Steering3.1% (all cars 1.8%)
Most common failure items
Share of tests on which each item was recorded.
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements 4.7%
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play 2.6%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively 2.4%
- Suspension arm: corroded and seriously weakened 2.4%
- Catalyst emissions: Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 2.4%
- Horn: not working 2.3%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid 2.1%
- Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction 2.0%
Most common advisories
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened 14.5%
- Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material 8.7%
- Sub-frame: corroded but not seriously weakened 8.6%
- Tread depth: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge 7.4%
- Tyres, condition: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing 7.4%
- Engine oil leaks: leak, but not excessive 6.3%
- Suspension arms, ball joint: ball joint has slight play 6.1%
- Track rod end: ball joint has slight play 5.3%
Pass rate by year of registration
Older cars fail more often whatever the model, so compare a car with others of the same age.
| First registered | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 1,917 | 70% |
| 2003 | 2,925 | 69% |
| 2004 | 2,798 | 69% |
| 2005 | 1,334 | 71% |
| 2006 | 315 | 74% |
Typical mileage by age
Average odometer reading at the MOT, by the car's age in years at the test.
| Age at test | Average mileage |
|---|---|
| 13 years | 39,537 miles |
| 14 years | 42,075 miles |
| 15 years | 46,090 miles |
| 17 years | 51,000 miles |
| 18 years | 53,295 miles |
| 19 years | 58,217 miles |
| 20 years | 60,886 miles |
Check a particular TF
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
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.