MG ZT 2003: MOT failure rate for its age

42.9% of 5,119 MOT tests of the MG ZT first registered in 2003 failed at the first attempt (2019–2024; retests excluded). Against this model's own normal rate at the same ages the index is 103.3 (95% CI 99.0–107.6; 100 = normal for this model at that age): the 2003 build year is no different from other years of the same model at the same age.

MG ZT built in 2003 at a glance
Measure	Value	Unit	Compared with	Years	Tests
Failed first time	42.9	%	all ages tested	2019–2024	5119
Index against this model at the same age (95% CI 99.0–107.6)	103.3	index	100 = normal for this model at that age	2019–2024	5119
Rank among this model's 6 build years	6	of 6	1 = fails least for its age	2019–2024	5119
Tested in 2024	519	tests	median 107,336 miles	2024	519

Built 2003 against MG ZT normal for the age: first-time MOT failure share at each age, age 16: 43.5% vs 46%; age 17: 43% vs 42.7%; age 18: 46.7% vs 41.8%; age 19: 40.2% vs 37.9%; age 20: 39.9% vs 34.9%; age 21: 42.4% vs 41%. Axis from 0% to 50%. DVSA MOT bulk data, 2019–2024.

Check a 2003 MG ZT by registration · All MG ZT MOT statistics · Download the build-year table (CSV)

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · full dataset (v5).

How does the 2003 MG ZT fail at each age?

Cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21 between 2019 and 2024. Each row compares their first-time failure share with what this model normally shows at that age, after allowing for the overall failure level of each test year.

MG ZT built 2003: first-time MOT failure by age, against the model's normal rate at that age (2019–2024)
Age	Tests	Failed, %	95% interval	Normal for this model at that age, %	Index (100 = normal)
16	1,323	43.5	40.8–46.1	46	94.6
17	1,012	43	40–46.1	42.7	100.7
18	901	46.7	43.5–50	41.8	111.8
19	732	40.2	36.7–43.8	37.9	106
20	632	39.9	36.1–43.7	34.9	114.3
21	519	42.4	38.2–46.7	41	103.5

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,119 (initial tests) · Method: normal rate = this model's first-time failure share at that age across its build years (cells of 400+ tests), adjusted for each test year's overall level; cells of 30+ tests, under 500 marked rough · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

What fails most on the 2003 MG ZT?

The most common failure group on cars built in 2003 is suspension: 45.5 items per 100 first tests, against 40.2 across all build years of the MG ZT. These counts are not age-adjusted: cars built in 2003 were tested at ages 16 to 21.

Failure items per 100 first tests, MG ZT built 2003 against the MG ZT in all build years (2019–2024, not age-adjusted)
Failure group	Built 2003, per 100	All build years, per 100	Items
Suspension	45.5	40.2	2,330
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	38.8	35.5	1,986
Brakes	33.9	31.4	1,733
Visibility	10.4	9.3	532
Body, chassis, structure	9.5	8.8	485

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 5,119 (initial tests of this build year) · Method: failure items grouped by DVSA's top-level defect groups, per 100 initial tests; groups with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

How does 2003 compare with the years around it?

Among the 6 published build years of the MG ZT, 2003 ranks 6 (1 = fails least for its age). 2002: index 103.3. 2004: index 95.3.

MG ZT build years: index against the model at the same age (2019–2024)
Build year	Index (100 = normal)	95% interval	Verdict	Tests
2001	102.2	89.3–115.1	no different (rough estimate)	578
2002	103.3	96.7–109.8	no different (rough estimate)	2,239
2003	103.3	99.0–107.6	no different	5,119
2004	95.3	91.8–98.8	better	7,035
2005	96.5	91.9–101.1	no different	4,151
2006	84.4	74.7–94.0	better (rough estimate)	834

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 19,956 (initial tests) · Method: observed failures against those expected for the same model at the same ages, test-year level adjusted; verdict follows the printed one-decimal bound · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

How to cite this page

MOT Risk Index (2026). MG ZT 2003 MOT statistics (data release dvsa-2024-v2; full dataset motriskindex-families-2024-v5, DOI 10.5281/zenodo.22975051), updated 30 September 2026. motriskindex.co.uk/cars/mg-zt/2003/

How every figure is calculated: methodology. Age, test year and build year are tied together (age = test year − build year), so the test-year level is taken as observed, not estimated.

Other pages for this model

MG ZT 2001 · MG ZT 2002 · MG ZT 2004 · MG ZT 2005 · MG ZT 2006 · MG ZT by postcode area · MG ZT body, chassis and structure failures · MG ZT brakes failures · MG ZT vehicle identification failures · MG ZT lamps, reflectors and electrics failures · MG ZT noise, emissions and leaks failures · MG ZT road wheels failures · MG ZT seat belts and airbags failures · MG ZT steering failures · MG ZT suspension failures · MG ZT tyres failures · MG ZT visibility failures