Does the MG ZR fail the MOT on brakes more than it should?
The MG ZR records 18.91 brakes failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 24.38 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−5.47, 95% interval −6.14 to −4.79). It ranks 582 of 712 models on brakes (1 = most failures above expected).
Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on brakes · check a MG ZR by registration
What exactly fails on brakes?
The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the MG ZR is “Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake”, recorded 641 times in 2019–2024.
| DVSA defect wording | Items | Per 100 tests |
|---|---|---|
| Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 641 | 3.13 |
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 504 | 2.46 |
| Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 370 | 1.81 |
| Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 351 | 1.71 |
| a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 291 | 1.42 |
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 20,477 (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
If a MG ZR gets a brakes advisory, how often does it fail next time?
16.9% of MG ZR MOTs with a brakes advisory were followed by a fail in the same group at the next MOT, typically 12.1 months and 2,153 miles later (2,775 advisories followed).
Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 2,775 (advisories followed) · Method: the same vehicles followed to their next ordinary MOT · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV
Other pages for this model
MG ZR 2001 · MG ZR 2002 · MG ZR 2003 · MG ZR 2004 · MG ZR 2005 · MG ZR 2006 · MG ZR by postcode area · MG ZR body, chassis and structure failures · MG ZR vehicle identification failures · MG ZR lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · MG ZR noise, emissions and leaks failures · MG ZR road wheels failures · MG ZR seat belts and airbags failures · MG ZR steering failures · MG ZR suspension failures · MG ZR tyres failures · MG ZR visibility failures