What are the most common problems with an MG ZR?

At MOT, battery and drive shaft (cv) joints are flagged more often than on other cars the same age.

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

Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the MG ZR as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the MG ZR as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the MG ZR as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide · 2001–2006

MG ZR common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used MG ZR, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 6,049 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

6,049MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model

6,734on the UK register

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).

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001

What usually goes wrong with an MG ZR?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the MG ZR 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 ZR MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Battery
up to 4.4× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.
Drive shaft (CV) joints
up to 2× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Rust around suspension or steering mountings
up to 1.9× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

MG ZR MOT pass rate by year

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
2006	65%	56% +9	165 (small sample)
2005	65%	57% +8	1,256
2004	63%	57% +6	2,017
2003	64%	57% +7	1,582
2002	65%	58% +7	792
2001	63%	60% +3	237 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying an MG ZR

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

Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 4.4× as often on the MG ZR as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2× as often on the MG ZR as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the MG ZR as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at an MG ZR?

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 2023–2025, 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