MG ZT-T
Registered from 2001 to 2006.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2004 2.0 diesel. 74 of 228 tests failed, 32%.
Better than 12% of 2004 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 750 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 55% | 41 |
| Brakes | 50% | 37 |
| Lights and electrics | 34% | 25 |
| Body and structure | 20% | 15 |
| Tyres and wheels | 19% | 14 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 18% | 13 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
Where it stands out against its peers
- Seat belts and airbags: failed more often than 91% of 2004 cars — 18% of its 74 failed tests, where an ordinary 2004 car has 3%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 55% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Brakes — 50% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Tyres and wheels — 19% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 34% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Body and structure — 20% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- Seat belts and airbags — 18% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 180–200k miles this one fails 40% of its inspections, against the 31% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100–120k miles | 32% | 29% | 41 | |
| 120–140k miles | 29% | 30% | 35 | |
| 140–160k miles | 36% | 31% | 39 | |
| 180–200k miles | 40% | 31% | 30 |
145 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 120k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.