2016 MG 3 MOT pass rate: 78.1% (9,100 tests)
Is the 2016 3 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2016-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 80.4% -2.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 77.5% -3.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 76.3% -3.3 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2016 3
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1,042 | 25.9% |
| 2 | Suspension | 928 | 23.1% |
| 3 | Tyres | 795 | 19.8% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 422 | 10.5% |
| 5 | Visibility | 345 | 8.6% |
| 6 | Steering | 128 | 3.2% |
All 3 years compared
| 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 (this page) | 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 |
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FAQs
Is a 2016 MG 3 reliable?
2016-registered examples passed 78.1% of their MOT tests (9,100 tests, 2023–2025), -3.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 10 years old with a median 44,653 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2016 3?
The median tested example shows 44,653 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.