Used car guide

1997 MG MGF: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1997 MG MGFs, from 646 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

646MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 1997 cars: 67%)
2,400typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for exhaust emissions (catalyst)

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1997 MG MGFs than on all cars registered in 1997.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.6× usual
    MG MGF
    11% All 1997 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 11%, against 4.2% of all 1997 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£900 (catalytic converter) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look for smoke when revving the warm engine and for engine or DPF warning lights.

  • Ball joint2.4× usual
    MG MGF
    10.2% All 1997 cars
    4.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.3%, against 1.3% of all 1997 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.

  • Sub-frame2.8× usual
    MG MGF
    8.2% All 1997 cars
    2.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.1% of all 1997 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.

  • Brake lights2× usual
    MG MGF
    7.4% All 1997 cars
    3.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.6%, against 2.9% of all 1997 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.

Better than most

Exhaust system: 3.1% here, against 8.9% of all 1997 cars.

By area

The share of 1997 MG MGF MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    33% 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
    31% 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
    24% 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
    18% 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
    14% 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.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    11% 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 an MG MGF?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2002126Suspension 33%
20011,534Brakes 33%
2000898Suspension 36%
1999792Suspension 32%
1998787Brakes 34%
1996469Suspension 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1997 MG MGFs registered in 1997. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score