MG Zt-T MOT Pass Rate & Official DVSA Failure Statistics

MG Zt-T MOT History and Failure Rates vs UK National Average

The MG Zt-T passed on its first attempt in 65.5%, and its overall record sits −8.4 percentage points below the national average for all cars. These figures come from every recorded DVSA MOT test for the MG Zt-T in the 2023–2025 data: 2,994 tests across 6 model years (2001–2006). A test still carries exactly one pass or fail verdict.

Figures are computed from every recorded DVSA test for this model in the 2023–2025 data.

Most Common MG Zt-T MOT Problems by Failure Category

Every MOT failure a tester records belongs to one inspection section of the DVSA manual. For the MG Zt-T, the Suspension section leads the record — the breakdown below shows where the recorded failures cluster, then the exact strings behind the three biggest sections.

Shares are over the MG Zt-T's recorded defect strings, merged across its year pages.

Top Recorded MG Zt-T DVSA MOT Test Statistics & Defect Descriptions

The descriptions below are the exact DVSA failure strings testers recorded most often for the MG Zt-T, each with how many of the model's 2,994 tests it was noted on.

• "Rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements" (Major) — noted on about 159 MG Zt-T tests, 5.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Srs malfunction indicator lamp warning lamp indicates a fault" (Major) — noted on about 128 MG Zt-T tests, 4.3% of the model's MOT record.
• "Registration plate lamp(s) inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources" (Minor) — noted on about 118 MG Zt-T tests, 3.9% of the model's MOT record.
• "Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view" (Minor) — noted on about 112 MG Zt-T tests, 3.7% of the model's MOT record.
• "Headlamp lens slightly defective" (Minor) — noted on about 109 MG Zt-T tests, 3.6% of the model's MOT record.
• "Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength" (Major) — noted on about 95 MG Zt-T tests, 3.2% of the model's MOT record.

Best and Worst MG Zt-T Model Years by Pass Rate

The strongest MG Zt-T model year on record is 2006 (76.0% across 150 tests), and the weakest is 2003 (70.2%). The gap between them is 5.8 points. Years with fewer than 50 recorded tests are excluded, so these are the years with enough MOT history to mean something.

Newest model year first. Only years with at least 50 recorded tests are listed.

Pre-MOT Inspection Checklist for MG Zt-T Owners

These checks follow this MG Zt-T's own most-recorded failure strings, starting with what a tester is most likely to flag on a MG Zt-T.

• the lights — “srs malfunction indicator lamp warning lamp indicates a fault”

  Switch everything on and walk round the car: both headlamps on dip and main, every indicator, both brake lights, reverse, fog and the two number-plate lamps. A bulb is a few pounds and a five-minute job.

• the windscreen — “windscreen damaged”

  Check the driver’s side of the screen within the swept area for chips and cracks; anything larger than 10mm in the driver’s central view is a fail. Most chips can be resin-repaired for far less than a new screen.

• corrosion — “component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength”

  Look under the sills, around the jacking points and where the suspension mounts meet the body. Flaking, holed or crumbly metal fails; a brown stain on sound metal does not.

Derived from the DVSA failure strings testers recorded for the MG Zt-T. A check that finds nothing means the item is likely fine, not that the test is guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions: MG Zt-T MOT & Reliability