MG 3 MOT pass rate: 78.5% (19,553 tests, 2025)

The MG 3 passed 78.5% of its 19,553 MOT tests in 2025 — 1.0 points above the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 7 years old with 39,188 miles on the clock.

78.5%Pass rate (2025)

19,553MOT tests analysed

39,188 miMedian mileage at test

7 yrsMedian age at test

How the 3 compares

MG 3

78.5%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

MG average (all models)

84.9%

What fails most on the MG 3

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 3:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Brakes	2,098	24.5%
2	Tyres	1,820	21.2%
3	Suspension	1,497	17.5%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	1,368	16.0%
5	Visibility	844	9.8%
6	Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems	408	4.8%

Pre-MOT checklist for 3 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory
Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Replace smeared wiper blades and top up washer fluid — both are test items

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

3 pass rate by registration year

Registration year	Tests	Pass rate	Vs same-age	Median mileage
2014	4,621	74.3%	-1.5 pts	54,219
2015	6,926	75.3%	-3.4 pts	48,752
2016	9,100	78.1%	-3.2 pts	44,653
2017	8,461	77.8%	-6.2 pts	39,608
2018	7,558	80.9%	-5.4 pts	32,985
2019	10,763	85.4%	-3.0 pts	25,870
2020	5,040	87.7%	-2.2 pts	20,646

Check a specific 3 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other MG models

ZS79.0% pass rate · 18,837 tests Hs Exclusive S-A92.5% pass rate · 10,003 tests 5 Exclusive90.2% pass rate · 9,518 tests ZS Exclusive EV87.7% pass rate · 9,445 tests ZS Exclusive Vti-Tech88.4% pass rate · 9,373 tests Tf73.7% pass rate · 8,549 tests Hs Exclusive90.9% pass rate · 8,098 tests ZS Exclusive T-Gdi Auto91.2% pass rate · 6,003 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a MG 3?

In 2025, 78.5% of 19,553 first MOT tests on the MG 3 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 3 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is brakes (24.5% of its recorded defects), followed by tyres.

Is the MG 3 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 78.5% it performs above the national average at a median age of 7 years and 39,188 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.