Used car guide

2009 MG TF: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2009 MG TFs, from 289 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 289 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

289MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 2009 cars: 58%)
2,500typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for rigid brake pipes

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2009 MG TFs than on all cars registered in 2009.

  • Rigid brake pipes2.6× usual
    MG TF
    19.7% All 2009 cars
    7.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 4.5%, against 1.2% of all 2009 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.

Better than most

Tyre condition: 6.9% here, against 15.6% of all 2009 cars.

By area

The share of 2009 MG TF MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    29% 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.

  • Suspension
    25% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    18% 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
    11% 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
    4% 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
    4% 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 TF?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2010210Brakes 26%
2008108Suspension 30%
2006283Suspension 34%
20051,161Suspension 34%
20042,370Suspension 36%
20032,482Brakes 36%
20021,629Suspension 32%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2009 MG TFs registered in 2009. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score