Used car guide

2015 MG 3: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2015 MG 3s, from 2,269 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,269MOT tests in 2025

66%pass first time (all 2015 cars: 72%)

5,400typical miles a year

2.6×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2015 MG 3s than on all cars registered in 2015.

Suspension arm bushes and joints2.6× usual

MG 3
18.4% All 2015 cars
7.1%

Failed outright at MOT: 4.4%, against 1.4% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.
Rigid brake pipes5.3× usual

MG 3
13.2% All 2015 cars
2.5%

Failed outright at MOT: 2.3%, against 0.3% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.
Sub-frame6.5× usual

MG 3
10.4% All 2015 cars
1.6%

Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.
Airbag warning light22.7× usual

MG 3
6.8% All 2015 cars
0.3%

Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 0.3% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
Suspension arm5.9× usual

MG 3
7.1% All 2015 cars
1.2%

Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2015 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Better than most

Number plate lights: 1% here, against 4.1% of all 2015 cars.

By area

The share of 2015 MG 3 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

Suspension

39% of testsRough price £120–£400

At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.
Tyres

35% of testsRough price £70–£150

At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.
Brakes

32% of testsRough price £150–£350

At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.
Lights and electrics

21% of testsRough price £10–£80

At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.
Wipers, windscreen and mirrors

10% of testsRough price £15–£250

At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.
Oil and fluid leaks

6% of testsRough price £80–£600

At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Looking at a MG 3?

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Other years

Year	MOT tests	Most flagged
2022	4,274	Tyres 26%
2021	1,929	Tyres 32%
2020	2,471	Tyres 34%
2019	3,635	Tyres 34%
2018	2,550	Tyres 34%
2017	2,844	Tyres 36%
2016	3,065	Suspension 37%
2014	1,524	Suspension 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2015 MG 3s registered in 2015. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score