MG 5 Excite MOT Failures

An analysis of 5,711 real DVSA MOT tests on the MG 5 Excite — what fails, how often, and how that compares to every other car on UK roads.

Where the MG 5 Excite fails its MOT

The single biggest MOT failure point on the MG 5 Excite is headlight fault — this model is 40 times more likely to fail on this item than the average car on UK roads. That makes it a significant weak point for anyone buying or owning this model. Across 5,711 MOT tests, 2.69% of all MG 5 Excite tests recorded this as a failure.

Lighting faults are usually straightforward to fix (bulbs, connectors, earth points) but can indicate deeper wiring issues on older cars. Check all lights including fog lamps, number plate lights, and dashboard warning lights.

Other notable weak points include rear registration plate lamp does not illuminat... (25x the fleet average), rear registration plate lamp or light source mi... (5.5x the fleet average), and abs fault (5.2x the fleet average). These ratios compare the MG 5 Excite's failure rate on each item against the national average for all cars tested — a ratio of 10x means this model fails ten times more often than a typical car.

The failures span 2 categories: Lights & Electrics, Suspension. If you're inspecting a MG 5 Excite before purchase, these are the areas to focus on — and if any have been flagged as advisories on a previous MOT, they're likely to become failures in the near future.

How failures change with mileage

The MG 5 Excite's weak points shift as the car covers more miles. Understanding these patterns helps you know what to expect — and what to budget for — at each stage of ownership.

Under 60,000 miles

At this mileage, most failures are either design-related or caused by age rather than wear. Components like bushes and drop links may not have been replaced yet, and original-fit parts can deteriorate even on low-mileage cars that spend a lot of time sitting.

For the MG 5 Excite specifically, the DVSA data shows the most common failures at this mileage are headlight fault (40x the average) and rear registration plate lamp does not illuminat... (25x). rear registration plate lamp or light source mi... (5.5x) and rear registration plate lamp or light source mi... also appear frequently.

60,000 to 100,000 miles

This is where routine wear items start to show up. Brake components, tyres, and exhaust parts have done serious work by this point. Cars that have been well serviced will show fewer of these failures — this mileage band is where good maintenance really separates the well-kept from the neglected.

The standout failure at this mileage is abs fault at 5.2x the fleet average.

The shift from headlight fault at lower mileages to abs fault at higher mileages is typical — early failures tend to be design or factory-related, while high-mileage failures reflect accumulated mechanical wear. A car that's been well maintained will usually dodge the worst of both.

What to check before buying a MG 5 Excite

Based on the MOT failure data and known issues above, here's what to prioritise when inspecting a MG 5 Excite:

Lights & Electrics — check for headlight fault, rear registration plate lamp does not illuminat..., rear registration plate lamp or light source mi.... Suspension — check for abs fault.

Always check the car's full MOT history for patterns — recurring advisories often become failures within 12 months. Enter any reg into our free car check to see the complete picture.

MOT failure data sourced from DVSA bulk test records via data.gov.uk. Ratios compare this model's failure rate against the national fleet average. Known issues sourced from manufacturer bulletins, specialist workshops, and verified owner reports.