What are the most common problems with an MG GS?

At MOT, headlight aim and coil springs are flagged more often than on other cars the same age.

What should I ask the seller before buying a used MG GS?

Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the MG GS as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the MG GS as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the MG GS as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide · 2016–2019

MG GS common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used MG GS, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 2,847 MOTs done during 2025), and what to check before you buy one.

2,847MOTs done in 2025, all years of this model

2,749on the UK register

2016best year at its MOT

Pick the year

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2019 2018 2017 2016

What usually goes wrong with an MG GS?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the MG GS in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common MG GS MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, in more than one year. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2025.

Headlight aim
up to 4.5× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Rough price £20–£60 our estimate

At the viewing: Park facing a wall at night or in a garage and check both headlight beams sit level. Aim is a cheap adjustment.
Coil springs
up to 4.3× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2017 and 2018.

Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.
Brake discs
up to 1.9× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2017 and 2018.

Rough price £150–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Look through the wheel at the brake disc: a deep lip at the edge or heavy scoring means they're worn. Feel for judder when braking.

MG GS MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2016 MG GS did best (71% passed first time, 4 points below all 2016 cars) and the 2017 did worst (72%, 6 points below all 2017 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

Year	Pass first time	All cars that year	MOT tests
2019	72%	84% -12	376 (small sample)
2018	76%	81% -5	965
2017	72%	78% -6	948
2016	71%	75% -4	558

Questions to ask the seller before buying an MG GS

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

Any recent work on the headlight aim? (Flagged at MOT 4.5× as often on the MG GS as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 4.3× as often on the MG GS as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the brake discs? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the MG GS as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an MG GS?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score