Fault File
All models / All cars / Saloons & estates / MG 5

MG 5

All generations and engines together · 8,122 MOT tests in the 2025 data

How this model wears

MG 5Class average, all tracked models

Known issues

Measured

Computed from DVSA MOT results, all of Great Britain, 2025. Nothing here is opinion.

What testers flag

Share of tests where each item was recorded. The dark tick is the class average across all tracked models; bars are scaled within each group.

Faults with the car itself

The rows that judge the model rather than its keeper. 8,122 tests in this band.

A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Advisory
6.6%class 2.1%
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Advisory
3.6%class 2.4%
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
Fail
3.1%class 0.4%
A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
Fail
2.4%class 0.2%
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Fail
1.3%class 0.7%
Excessive fluctuation in brake effort through each wheel revolution.
Advisory
0.7%class 0.3%
A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Fail
0.6%class 0.2%
Reflector defective or damaged by up to 50% of the reflecting surface
Minor
0.5%class 0.0%

Wear, upkeep and luck

Tyres, pads and stone chips say more about how the car was driven and maintained than about how it was built.

Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Advisory
32.7%class 18.8%
A tyre seriously damaged
Advisory
10.0%class 12.3%
Brake disc or drum excessively weakened, insecure or fractured
Advisory
7.5%class 7.0%
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Fail
2.9%class 2.3%
Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt
Advisory
2.8%class 2.1%
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Fail
2.5%class 1.2%
A tyre seriously damaged
Fail
2.3%class 1.6%
Nail in tyre
Advisory
1.9%class 1.7%

Unconfirmed issues

Reported

Owner folklore from forums and the motoring press. Most of it never shows up in an MOT, which is why this section exists at all.

Flat 12V battery and phantom electrical faults

Emerging

Owners repeatedly report the small 12V battery draining overnight, sometimes traced to a 'Radio Module Disconnected' software glitch that stops the car sleeping properly. Once it has gone fully flat a few times the battery often needs replacing rather than just recharging, and a weak 12V reading has also been linked to false 'Motor Fault' or HV system warnings that bring the car to a stop. It can happen at any age or mileage, and fixes so far are dealer resets and battery swaps rather than a confirmed manufacturer campaign.

No clear mileage pattern, reported across ages · sources: mgevs.com forum, speakev.com forum

Rear suspension knocks and clunks

Partly in the MOT data

A steady stream of owners report knocking or clunking from the rear over speed bumps and potholes, blamed variously on worn shock absorbers, loose damper top mounts, or a boot floor panel that some cars left the factory without locking in properly. The MOT data backs the damper side of this specifically: shock absorbers failing outright show up on this car well above the class average, while general suspension bush wear is only a little above average. That points at the dampers themselves as the real weak spot, not just the bushes forums argue about.

Reported from 2021 cars, said to be worse in cold weather · sources: mgevs.com forum, mgexp.com forum

Front tyre wear on the inside edge

Disputed

Some owners see the inner edges of the front tyres wear down fast, in one case reported down to the wear indicators at around 5,500 miles. Forums are split on the cause: some blame the factory alignment not being set correctly, others point at dealers over-inflating the tyres at pre-delivery inspection. Either way, budget for an early alignment check and possibly a set of front tyres sooner than the tread would otherwise suggest.

Reported from as little as 5,000 miles · sources: mgevs.com forum

Water getting into the rear tyre well

Emerging

A smaller but recurring complaint is water finding its way into the rear wheel arch or tyre well area, which then trips a string of unrelated-looking electrical faults and sends the car to the dealer with a long fault list. It is not clear from owner reports which seal or grommet lets the water in, and there is no dealer bulletin confirming a cause, so treat it as something to ask a seller about rather than a certainty.

Small number of reports, mostly after wet weather · sources: mgevs.com forum

Brake lights firing hard on regen braking

Disputed

Lifting off the accelerator gives strong regenerative braking, and on some cars the brake lights come on with it, catching out following drivers and prompting owners to post about it online. Owner forums mention a software update touching brake light behaviour, but it is not confirmed as a formal safety recall, and owners disagree over whether this is a fault or just how one-pedal driving works on this car.

Reported by current owners, unclear how widely the update has been applied · sources: mgevs.com forum, Reddit r/drivingUK

Viewing one? Ask this

Built from the two sections above.

Start the car after it has sat overnight and watch for slow cranking or warning lights. A weak start or a 'Motor Fault' message points at the 12V drain issue some owners report.
Drive over a speed bump or rough patch and listen for knocks from the rear. A clunk suggests worn dampers or a loose mount at the back, the fault the MOT data also flags.
Run a hand and eye over the inside edge of both front tyres. A sharp wear step or feathering means the alignment is off and new tyres are coming sooner than the tread suggests.
Check the MOT history for shock absorber or suspension advisories. Repeated suspension entries back up the pattern this car shows in its own MOT figures.
Ask if any software updates have been applied and check the service book for stamps. No updates logged means the electrical fixes owners describe may not have been carried out.
Lift off the accelerator hard on the test drive and get a passenger to watch the brake lights. Lights firing hard on regen is a known trait of this car, but worth flagging if it seems excessive.
After rain, check the boot floor and rear wheel arch trim for damp or staining. Water sitting in the rear tyre well has been linked to random electrical faults on this car.

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