Used car guide

2002 MG ZR petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol MG ZR first registered in 2002 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 711 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

711MOTs of 2002 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
66%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 58%)
3,600typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for battery

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2002 MG ZR petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2002 MG ZR petrol than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Battery3.5× usual
    MG ZR
    4.5% All 2002 cars
    1.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.3% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.

Better than most

Coil springs: 3.7% here, against 10.2% of all 2002 cars. Number plate lights: 3.5% here, against 7.4% of all 2002 cars.

Common 2002 MG ZR petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2002 MG ZR petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    31% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    26% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    25% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    22% of testsRough price £70–£150

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

  • Exhaust and emissions
    13% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for an engine warning light.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    13% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2002 MG ZR petrol

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

  1. Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 3.5× as often on the 2002 MG ZR petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an MG ZR?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the MG ZR compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006149Lights and electrics 40%
20051,256Suspension 34%
20042,017Lights and electrics 31%
20031,582Brakes 31%
2001231Brakes 35%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of MG ZR cars first registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score