Used car guide

2012 MG 6: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2012 MG 6s, from 329 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 329 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

329MOT tests in 2025
57%pass first time (all 2012 cars: 63%)
6,000typical miles a year
5.2×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2012 MG 6s than on all cars registered in 2012.

  • Rigid brake pipes5.2× usual
    MG 6
    28.6% All 2012 cars
    5.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 8.5%, against 0.8% of all 2012 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-frame4.2× usual
    MG 6
    21% All 2012 cars
    5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.3% of all 2012 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.

  • Suspension arm5.5× usual
    MG 6
    14.3% All 2012 cars
    2.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.6%, against 0.2% of all 2012 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.

  • Headlights3.2× usual
    MG 6
    15.2% All 2012 cars
    4.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.4%, against 2.9% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Ball joint2.4× usual
    MG 6
    13.4% All 2012 cars
    5.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.7%, against 3% of all 2012 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

By area

The share of 2012 MG 6 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    57% 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.

  • Brakes
    43% 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
    39% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    36% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    8% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    7% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at an MG 6?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2016276Brakes 39%
2015329Brakes 43%
2014331Suspension 47%
2013177Suspension 45%
2011131Suspension 51%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2012 MG 6s registered in 2012. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score