Used car guide · 2020–2025

MG 5 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used MG 5, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 8,037 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2024 MG 5

Cars registered in 2024 haven’t had their first MOT yet (it’s due at 3 years old), so there are no MOT results to show. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the MG 5 as a whole.

1,567on the UK register at the end of 2025
2027first MOT due
Electricfuel type
What to check on a 2024 car
  • Warranty left

    Ask for the date it was first registered and check how much of the maker’s warranty is left, and that it transfers to you. Electric and hybrid batteries usually have a longer, separate warranty.

  • Servicing

    Servicing on time with the maker’s schedule keeps the warranty valid. Ask for the service book or the dealer’s digital record.

  • Finance

    Nearly new cars are often still on finance. A history check shows outstanding finance, and whether it has been written off or stolen.

  • Recalls

    Ask whether any recall work has been done, and check the reg on GOV.UK’s free recall checker.

  • Logbook (V5C)

    The name and address should match the seller, and the VIN on the V5C should match the car.

Check for recalls on GOV.UK

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202520242023202220212020

What usually goes wrong with an MG 5?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the MG 5 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common MG 5 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

  • Number plate lights

    up to 13.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    Rough price £5–£40 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the number plate lights work and the plates are clean and legal.

  • Shock absorbers

    up to 10× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    Rough price £200–£300 (pair, average rear to front) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Push down hard on each corner. It should bounce once and settle. Look for oil on the shock absorber body.

  • Headlights

    up to 15.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2021 and 2022.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Tread depth

    up to 1.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2022 and 2023.

    Rough price £70–£150 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

MG 5 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2023 MG 5 did best (89% passed first time, 3 points below all 2023 cars) and the 2022 did worst (80%, 9 points below all 2022 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
202389%92% -3790
202280%89% -93,692
202183%87% -43,401
202088%87% +1154 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying an MG 5

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the number plate lights? (Flagged at MOT 13.8× as often on the MG 5 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the shock absorbers? (Flagged at MOT 10× as often on the MG 5 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 15.2× as often on the MG 5 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an MG 5?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score