Does the MG 5 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?
The MG 5 records 7.16 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 1.51 expected for a ev of the same age mix: more than expected for its class and age (+5.65, 95% interval +5.18 to +6.12). It ranks 136 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a MG 5 by registration
What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the MG 5 is “A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED”, recorded 331 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED | 331 | 2.64 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources | 185 | 1.48 |
| A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 81 | 0.65 |
| Headlamp aim unable to be tested | 68 | 0.54 |
| The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 50 | 0.40 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 12,516 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
MG 5 by postcode area · MG 5 brakes failures · MG 5 suspension failures · MG 5 tyres failures · MG 5 visibility failures