Used car guide

2005 MG TF: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2005 MG TFs, from 1,161 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,161MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2005 cars: 58%)
2,600typical miles a year
1.8×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2005 MG TFs than on all cars registered in 2005.

  • Sub-frame1.8× usual
    MG TF
    12.1% All 2005 cars
    6.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.2%, against 0.3% of all 2005 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.

  • Horn4.7× usual
    MG TF
    2.8% All 2005 cars
    0.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.6% of all 2005 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

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

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2× usual
    MG TF
    4.7% All 2005 cars
    2.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.7%, against 2.2% of all 2005 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.

Better than most

Tread depth: 7% here, against 20.1% of all 2005 cars. Headlights: 3.4% here, against 14.2% of all 2005 cars.

By area

The share of 2005 MG TF MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    34% 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
    28% 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
    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
    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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    8% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

Looking at a MG TF?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20042,370Suspension 36%
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 2005 MG TFs registered in 2005. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score