69.6%
MG TF
MG TF MOT pass rate and common problems
The MG TF passed 69.6% of its initial MOT tests in 2025, 2.7 percentage points below the 72.3% UK average. The item testers recorded most often was rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements.
Checking a specific car? Its own results, advisories and recorded mileages are in a free MOT history check.
How the TF compares
Initial MOT tests in 2025, retests excluded. A car that failed and was repaired at the test station counts as a fail.
80.9%
MG average
72.3%
UK average, all cars
The TF runs 11.3 points behind the MG average. It is 8th of the 12 MG models in the data. The average TF arrived at its test 21.2 years old with 57,639 miles recorded.
A pass rate records whether cars met the roadworthiness standard on test day. It is not a reliability score, and part of any gap reflects how old the tested cars were.
TF MOT pass rate by age
The same 2025 tests split by the car's age at test.
| Age at test | Tests | Pass rate | vs UK average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to 5 years (small sample) | 1 | 100% | 27.7 pts above |
| 6 to 10 years (small sample) | 4 | 50% | 22.3 pts below |
| 11 years and over | 8,692 | 69.6% | 2.7 pts below |
Too few tests fall into some age groups to compare them reliably. The UK average of 72.3% covers cars of every age, so compare like with like.
Where TF failures cluster
Every failure item recorded on MG TF cars in 2025, grouped into the DVSA's test areas.
Brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment together account for 40.9% of recorded failure items. These are recorded failures across the model, not faults every car has.
The 10 most common TF MOT failures
Specific items recorded on MG TF cars that failed their 2025 MOT, as a share of all recorded failure items.
Together these 10 items make up 32% of everything testers recorded against failed MG TF cars. The rest is spread across many smaller items, and one failed test often records several at once.
What to look at on a TF
The recorded failures above, grouped by area, biggest first.
1
Suspension
Recorded most often: component mounting prescribed areas prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength, ball joint excessively worn and suspension arm corroded and seriously weakened. 8.4% of failure items.
2
Brakes
Recorded most often: rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements and service brake performance excessively binding. 8.2% of failure items.
3
Visibility
Recorded most often: wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively and washers provides insufficient washer liquid. 6.2% of failure items.
4
Steering
Recorded most often: track rod end ball joint has excessive play. 3.4% of failure items.
The car's own MOT history matters more than any model average. A free MOT history check shows whether a specific TF has failed on these items before, or had them noted as advisories. Buying one? See the used MG TF buying guide.
Already found one?
Check its finance, write-off, theft, mileage and keeper history with a £15 vehicle history report.
MG TF MOT FAQs
What is the MG TF MOT pass rate?
69.6% of MG TF cars passed their initial MOT first time in 2025, from 8,698 tests. That is 2.7 percentage points below the 72.3% average for all cars, and ranks 355th of 575 models.
What does a MG TF most commonly fail its MOT on?
The item testers recorded most often on MG TF cars failing their 2025 MOT was rbt (sp) efficiency below requirements, on 5.9% of failure items. Next were wipers does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.6%) and track rod end ball joint has excessive play (3.4%).
Which area causes the most MG TF MOT failures?
Across every recorded failure item, the largest area was brakes at 23.2%, followed by lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment at 17.7%.
Does this mean every MG TF has these problems?
No. These are the items testers recorded across every MG TF that failed in 2025. They show where the model most often needs attention, not the condition of any individual car.
How do I see a specific MG TF's MOT history?
Enter its registration on the free Carpeep MOT history check to see that car's own test results, failures, advisories and recorded mileages.
MOT figures are aggregated from the DVSA MOT Anonymised data set for 2025: class 4 initial tests, retests excluded, with failure items from failed tests (advisories and minor defects excluded), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. MOT results describe roadworthiness at test, not mechanical reliability.