Used car guide

2004 MG TF: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2004 MG TFs, from 2,370 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

2,370MOT tests in 2025
69%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 58%)
2,700typical miles a year
1.9×the usual rate for rust around sub-frame mountings

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2004 MG TFs than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings1.9× usual
    MG TF
    2.9% All 2004 cars
    1.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.1%, against 0.3% of all 2004 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

Rigid brake pipes: 5% here, against 17.1% of all 2004 cars. Tread depth: 7.9% here, against 18.7% of all 2004 cars.

By area

The share of 2004 MG TF MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% 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
    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    9% 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.

Looking at a MG TF?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20051,161Suspension 34%
20032,482Brakes 36%
20021,629Brakes 32%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2004 MG TFs registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score