MG Zs 2022: reliability & common MOT faults
Elevated MOT failure patterns for the 2022 MG Zs include Coil spring (rear) (~106.8× peers) and Front fog lamps (front) (~17.4× peers). Based on UK DVSA open data for test year 2025 (2,562 failed first-attempt tests), compared with similar age and mileage peers. Available test years: 2024, 2025.
Common faults
These are MOT failure patterns that show up more often on this registration year than on similar cars of the same class, age band, and mileage in the same test year (leave-one-out peer comparison; whole model family excluded).
Statistical patterns from MOT defect codes — not manufacturer TSBs, recalls, or a diagnosis of any individual car. Fail and advisory patterns are kept separate.
Based on 2,562 failed first-attempt tests in test year 2025.
Coil spring (rear)
This failure pattern appears about 106.8× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 522 failed first-attempt tests; 20.4% of failed tests for this model year.
Rear · 522 failures · ×106.8 vs similar cars · 20.4% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
Front fog lamps (front)
This failure pattern appears about 17.4× more often than on similar peer cars — recorded on 109 failed first-attempt tests; 4.3% of failed tests for this model year.
Front · 109 failures · ×17.4 vs similar cars · 4.3% of failed first tests · Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars
| # | Fault pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Rear | 522 | ×106.8 | 20.4% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Front fog lamps (front)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Front fog lamps > Front fog lamps
|
Front | 109 | ×17.4 | 4.3% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 3 |
Front fog lamps
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Front and rear fog lamps > Front fog lamps > Front fog lamps
|
Any | 61 | ×12.5 | 2.4% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 4 |
Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
|
Rear | 72 | ×3.8 | 2.8% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 5 |
Registration plate lamp(s)
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment > Registration plate lamp(s)
|
Any | 52 | ×3.0 | 2.0% | Possible elevated fault |
| 6 |
Rbt (sp)
Brakes > Brake performance > Parking brake efficiency (sp) > Rbt (sp)
|
Any | 55 | ×2.5 | 2.1% | Possible elevated fault |
Only patterns that clear minimum sample and elevation thresholds are shown (at least 20 failures and 2.0× peer lift).
Wear patterns
These patterns look like wear or usage effects rather than model-specific design faults. Tyres, brake friction material, and alignment-related defects often track mileage and road use. They are not treated as a model design fault in our common-faults ranking.
| # | Pattern | Location | Failures | vs similar cars | Share of fails | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Brake discs (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
|
Rear | 166 | ×7.0 | 6.5% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
| 2 |
Tyre pressure monitoring system
Tyres > Tyre pressure monitoring system
|
Any | 178 | ×3.5 | 6.9% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
| 3 |
Brake pads (front)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake linings and pads > Brake pads
|
Front | 222 | ×2.2 | 8.7% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
Advisories
Advisory items recorded on failed first-attempt tests that appear elevated versus peers. Advisories are not a fail rate — they flag issues noted at the test, often before they become failures.
| # | Advisory pattern | Location | Notes | vs similar cars | Share | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Coil spring (rear)
Suspension > Springs > Coil springs > Coil spring
|
Rear | 38 | ×146.2 | 1.5% | Strong pattern — appears far more often than similar cars |
| 2 |
Brake discs (rear)
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
|
Rear | 580 | ×4.5 | 22.6% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
| 3 |
Service brake performance (rear)
Brakes > Brake performance > Service brake performance > Rbt > Service brake performance
|
Rear | 64 | ×4.1 | 2.5% | Likely common fault pattern |
| 4 |
Brake discs
Brakes > Mechanical brake components > Brake discs and drums > Brake discs
|
Any | 26 | ×2.8 | 1.0% | Wear / usage pattern — not treated as a model design fault |
| 5 |
Engine oil leaks
Noise, emissions and leaks > Fluid leaks > Engine oil leaks
|
Any | 26 | ×2.5 | 1.0% | Elevated vs peers |
FAQs
About this data
Universe. UK class 4 cars only; normal MOT tests (not retests); results pass, PRS, or fail; one first test per vehicle per calendar year.
PRS policy. PRS means the vehicle failed items that were fixed at the test station and then passed the same day. We count PRS as a first-attempt fail in headline rates so same-day repairs do not hide problems.
Peer baseline. We compare this model year with other class 4 cars of similar age and mileage in the same test year, excluding the whole model family so the car is not compared with itself (leave-one-out peer baseline).
Data years. Test years covered: 2024, 2025.
Limitations.
- MOT tests do not cover engine internals, gearboxes, or many electronic modules — so this is not a full reliability score.
- Common faults are inferred from MOT defect statistics, not manufacturer TSBs or recalls.
- Matching on age and mileage reduces but does not remove every usage or maintenance difference between cars.
- Pass rates and star scores appear only when those data marts are available; this page never invents them.
Display rules config: 1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.