MG Zt (2004)

3,651 real MOT outcomes analysed • 72.7% first-time pass rate

2004 MG Zt

CarHunch analysed 3,651 real MOT records for the 2004 MG Zt. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 7.3% below UK average
72.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
59,674
typical mileage
45,962–75,953 middle half
31.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
4.13
avg MOT failures per car
over 14.4 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

73.7%
Petrol
2,430 vehicles
70.7%
Diesel
1,213 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2004 MG Zt

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 31.2% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a MG Zt

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (67%) 2,430 73.7% 3.74
Diesel (33%) 1,213 70.7% 4.91
LPG (0%) 7 78% 3.14
Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) 1 75% 4

Mileage Distribution

Most 2004 MG Zt vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

45,962
low mileage
59,674
typical
75,953
high mileage

Half of all 2004 MG Zt vehicles fall between 45,962 and 75,953 miles.

2004 MG Zt — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 416 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (16% of peak).

2,600 416 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

14.4
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
4.13
Avg failures per vehicle
18.5
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2004 MG Zt

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 71.5%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 64.4%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 60.7%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 60.2%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 42.7%
    Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 41.7%
    Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
  • 39.2%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 33.1%
    Parking brake lever has little reserve travel

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific MG Zt?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — MG Zt:

2001 2002 2003 2005 2006