Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2021 MG 3?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2021 MG 3?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2021 MG 3?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 2021 MG 3 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 717 vehicles, the 2021 MG 3 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.5%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2021 MG 3?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2021 MG 3 are: Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (23.2% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (21.5% of vehicles), Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (19.4% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2021 MG 3?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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MG 3 (2021)

717 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.5% first-time pass rate

2021 MG 3

CarHunch analysed 717 real MOT records for the 2021 MG 3. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2021 MG 3 passes its first MOT at 88.5%, well above the UK average of 80%, signalling solid initial build quality and maintenance. However, 11.4% of these vehicles have recorded at least one dangerous defect during testing, which is a meaningful safety concern worth discussing with a potential seller.

These cars are running at typical mileage for their age (median 21,169 miles), and they're generating relatively few failures—just 0.37 per vehicle on average—though advisories are slightly elevated at 2.1 per car, suggesting minor wear items need watching. Before buying, request the full MOT history and specifically ask whether any dangerous defects were recorded and rectified, as that's your best indicator of long-term reliability.

The 2021 MG 3 passes its MOT first time more often than most UK vehicles (88.5% vs ~80% average) — and when it does fail, it's usually something minor and cheap to fix.

⚠️ About 1 in 12 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88.5%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

11.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.37

Over 2.4 tests on record

Low

Typical mileage

21k

Middle half: 15k–29k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.5% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 2.1 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 717 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

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What tends to go wrong

Across 717 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 23.2%

Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 19.4%

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · Offside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 6.1%

Nearside Rear Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt

Lighting 4.8%

Offside Front Headlamp aim too low · Nearside Headlamp aim too low

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2021.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 717 MG 3 cars.

Before you buy a 2021 MG 3

Based on MOT data from 717 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 11.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 20,279 MG 3 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 24%

4,858

White 23.5%

4,770

Black 18.6%

3,762

Blue 11.6%

2,357

Yellow 9.2%

1,869

Silver 7.6%

1,542

Orange 2.8%

577

Grey 2.7%

544

Mileage Distribution

Most 2021 MG 3 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

21,169

typical

15,071

low mileage

28,852

high mileage

Half of all 2021 MG 3 vehicles fall between 15,071 and 28,852 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 15,071 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 15,071–28,852 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2021 MG 3s sit.

⚠ Over 38,950 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.4

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.37

Avg failures per vehicle

2.1

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — MG 3: All 3 years → Which year to buy? →

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022

Or browse all models: MG →

Compare with another model

See how the 2021 MG 3 stacks up against a rival.

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