Know Your MOT
31.9%fail rate

MG Zt-T Cdti common MOT failures and failure rate

What a MG Zt-T Cdti fails its MOT on, from real DVSA test data, and the part that resolves each item.

Based on 185 MOT tests in DVSA data.

About 31.9% of MOT tests recorded on the MG Zt-T Cdti in DVSA data end in a failure. The same handful of items account for most of them.

Its most common failure is lamps & electrical, which makes up 35.6% of the MG Zt-T Cdti's failures, followed by lamps & electrical, suspension, brakes, visibility/wipers. Each item below links to the part that resolves it. Confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying, and have safety-critical work done by a competent mechanic.

What it fails on, and why

Lamps & electrical35.6% of failures

Lighting is the single most common MOT failure and the cheapest to put right. A blown headlight, brake-light or number-plate bulb, a cracked lens, or a headlamp beam that points too high or low will all fail. Most are a two-minute bulb swap.

Suspension33.9% of failures

Suspension failures usually mean a worn or snapped coil spring, a leaking shock absorber, or play in a lower arm ball joint or bush. The tester checks for corrosion, fractures and excessive movement. A broken front spring is one of the most common failures on higher-mileage cars and is a straightforward replacement.

Brakes30.5% of failures

Brake failures cover worn pads and discs, an imbalance between wheels, corroded or scored discs, or a binding caliper. Braking efficiency is measured on a rolling road, so a spongy or pulling brake shows up as a low reading.

Visibility/wipers13.6% of failures

Visibility failures include torn or smearing wiper blades, a washer jet that does not reach the screen, and chips or cracks in the driver's swept area. Blades and washer fluid are quick, cheap fixes.

Exhaust & emissions11.9% of failures

Exhaust failures cover leaks, insecure mountings and emissions over the limit. A blowing exhaust, a failed lambda reading or a diesel that smokes beyond the limit will fail.

Tyres10.2% of failures

Tyres fail for tread below the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters, uneven or exposed-cord wear, or sidewall damage. The tester inspects all four; a single illegal tyre is a fail.

The parts that fix each

If your car has just failed, you have 10 working days to fix the items and get a free partial retest. These are the usual parts; confirm the exact fitment against your registration or VIN before buying.

For the lamps & electrical failure: MG Zt-T Cdti headlight and indicator bulbsSearch Amazon for MG Zt-T Cdti headlight and indicator bulbsaffiliate searchFind MG Zt-T Cdti headlight and indicator bulbs on eBayaffiliate
For the suspension failure: MG Zt-T Cdti suspension springs and shock absorbersSearch Amazon for MG Zt-T Cdti suspension springs and shock absorbersaffiliate searchFind MG Zt-T Cdti suspension springs and shock absorbers on eBayaffiliate
For the brakes failure: MG Zt-T Cdti brake pads and discsSearch Amazon for MG Zt-T Cdti brake pads and discsaffiliate searchFind MG Zt-T Cdti brake pads and discs on eBayaffiliate
For the visibility/wipers failure: MG Zt-T Cdti wiper bladesSearch Amazon for MG Zt-T Cdti wiper bladesaffiliate searchFind MG Zt-T Cdti wiper blades on eBayaffiliate
For the exhaust & emissions failure: MG Zt-T Cdti exhaustSearch Amazon for MG Zt-T Cdti exhaustaffiliate searchFind MG Zt-T Cdti exhaust on eBayaffiliate
For the tyres failure: MG Zt-T Cdti tyresSearch Amazon for MG Zt-T Cdti tyresaffiliate searchFind MG Zt-T Cdti tyres on eBayaffiliate

Other models

MG Zr MOT failures30.2% failure rateMG Mgf MOT failures33.3% failure rateMG Tf MOT failures27.1% failure rateFord Fiesta MOT failures27.1% failure rate

Sources: DVSA MOT History API: MOT test results and defect data ยท DVSA MOT testing data for Great Britain