Used car guide

1999 MG MGF: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1999 MG MGFs, from 792 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

792MOT tests in 2025
66%pass first time (all 1999 cars: 65%)
2,500typical miles a year
2.3×the usual rate for exhaust emissions (catalyst)

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1999 MG MGFs than on all cars registered in 1999.

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.3× usual
    MG MGF
    10.5% All 1999 cars
    4.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 10.5%, against 4.4% of all 1999 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.

  • Sub-frame2.2× usual
    MG MGF
    7.7% All 1999 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.9%, against 0.2% of all 1999 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.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 7.3% here, against 15.7% of all 1999 cars. Exhaust system: 2.8% here, against 8.7% of all 1999 cars.

By area

The share of 1999 MG MGF MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    32% 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
    16% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% 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 MGF?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2002126Suspension 33%
20011,534Brakes 33%
2000898Suspension 36%
1998787Brakes 34%
1997646Suspension 33%
1996469Suspension 37%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1999 MG MGFs registered in 1999. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score