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Model reliability
MG 3 reliability
The MG 3 fails its MOT about as often as most cars 6 to 10 years old: 26.4% of 10,237 tests failed in 2023, against 24.4% on average.
Up to 5 years old
18.2% failed their MOT
From 8,019 MOT tests of MG 3s this age.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 50% more oftenTyre condition4.8% vs 3.2%Fix about £90
Fails 2× as oftenHeadlamp aim3.8% vs 1.7%Fix about £30
Fails 3× as oftenBrake performance1.7% vs 0.5%
Fails 36% more oftenWashers1.5% vs 1.1%
6 to 10 years old
26.4% failed their MOT
From 10,237 MOT tests of MG 3s this age.
Where it does worse than other cars this age
Fails 10× as oftenSRS malfunction indicator lamp3.1% vs 0.3%Fix about £30
Fails 53% more oftenBrake performance2.9% vs 1.9%
Fails 61% more oftenWipers2.9% vs 1.8%
Fails 40% more oftenWashers2.8% vs 2%
Advised 3× as oftenSuspension arms15.2% vs 5.3%
Advised 4× as oftenRigid brake pipes5.9% vs 1.6%Fix about £120
Checking a MG 3 before you buy
Look at the parts above at the viewing, and read the car’s own MOT history: advisories for the same parts suggest the problem is already starting. Sweep’s free check shows every MOT, advisory and mileage reading for a registration.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2023 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Failure rates compare this model with all cars in the same age band. Fix prices are typical independent-garage estimates.