2017 MG 3 MOT pass rate: 77.8% (8,461 tests)
Is the 2017 3 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2017-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 81.1% -4.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 77.1% -6.8 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 75.2% -7.1 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 2017 3
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 1,322 | 33.0% |
| 2 | Tyres | 836 | 20.9% |
| 3 | Suspension | 520 | 13.0% |
| 4 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 432 | 10.8% |
| 5 | Visibility | 411 | 10.3% |
| 6 | Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 165 | 4.1% |
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 | 9,100 | 78.1% | -3.2 pts | 44,653 |
| 2017 (this page) | 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 2017 MG 3 reliable?
2017-registered examples passed 77.8% of their MOT tests (8,461 tests, 2023–2025), -6.2 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 9 years old with a median 39,608 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2017 3?
The median tested example shows 39,608 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.