How reliable is the MG RV8 compared with other cars?

We do not publish a comparison for the MG RV8, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 89.6% across 556 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.

What do testers most often warn about on a MG RV8?

The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 15.1% of all MG RV8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.

What mileage does a MG RV8 usually have at its MOT?

The average odometer reading recorded at test is 30,498 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

Model reliability file

MG RV8 MOT pass rate & common failures

From 556 recorded MOT tests of the MG RV8, published by DVSA.

Data updated 29 July 2026

Quick answer

Across 556 MOT tests, 89.6% of MG RV8 tests ended in a pass. This figure is not adjusted for age or mileage, so it is not a reliability ranking: the MG RV8 fleet does not yet cover a wide enough spread of ages and distances to compare it fairly against other models. Its most commonly recorded failure is brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle, which appears in 20.9% of failed tests. Cars of this model average 30,498 miles on the odometer when tested.

At a glance

Recorded pass rate

89.6%unadjusted, not comparable556 tests

We are not publishing a ranking for the RV8. The examples tested do not cover a wide enough spread of ages and mileages to compare it fairly, and an unadjusted pass rate mostly sorts models by how recently they were bought rather than how well they were built. The failure and advisory patterns below come from the same 556 tests and are worth reading on their own terms.

DVSA recorded wording

Most common failure items

Share of failed MG RV8 tests in which each item was recorded. One failed test often lists several items, so these do not sum to 100%.

1.Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle20.9%
9 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
2.Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc14.0%
6 occurrencesSteering rack gaiter split, damaged or missing explained
3.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake11.6%
5 occurrencesBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
4.An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning11.6%
5 occurrencesLamp not working explained
5.Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen9.3%
4 occurrencesWiper or washer not working properly explained
6.The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements9.3%
4 occurrencesHeadlamp aim incorrect explained
7.Braking effort not recording at a wheel7.0%
3 occurrences
8.Stop lamps all missing or inoperative7.0%
3 occurrencesStop lamp not working explained
9.Abnormal lag in brake operation on a wheel7.0%
3 occurrences
10.Emissions levels exceed default limits7.0%
3 occurrencesEmissions above the permitted limit explained

Warnings without a failure

Most common advisories

Share of all MG RV8 tests carrying each advisory. The denominator differs from the failure list above because an advisory can be issued on a car that passed.

1.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users15.1%
84 tests
2.Play in steering rack inner joint(s)6.5%
36 tests
3.A tyre seriously damaged4.9%
27 testsTyre damaged or deteriorated explained
4.Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users2.5%
14 tests
5.Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake2.0%
11 testsBrake binding or imbalanced across an axle explained
6.Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded2.0%
11 testsBrake pipe corroded explained
7.A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn1.1%
6 testsSuspension arm bush worn explained
8.A brake hose ferrule excessively corroded1.1%
6 testsBrake hose deteriorated, damaged or chafing explained

What gets tested

The RV8 fleet

Average mileage recorded at test: 30,498
Fuel mix of tested cars: Petrol100.0%

Check a specific MG RV8

A model average tells you the pattern. Its own MOT record tells you the car.

Compare within the range

Other MG models

MG ZS — 82.1% unadjusted
MG HS — 88.3% unadjusted
MG 3 — 75.1% unadjusted
MG 5 — 84.3% unadjusted
MG TF — 69.6% unadjusted
MG Mgf — 66.9% unadjusted
All MG models

Common questions

How reliable is the MG RV8 compared with other cars?: We do not publish a comparison for the MG RV8, because the cars of this model that have been tested do not cover a wide enough range of ages and mileages. Its raw pass rate is 89.6% across 556 tests, but comparing a raw rate between models mostly ranks them by how new they are rather than how good they are. The failure and advisory patterns further down the page are still drawn from real tests and are worth reading.
What is the most common MOT failure on a MG RV8?: The item recorded most often is "Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle", which appears in 20.9% of failed MG RV8 tests. Because one failed test can list several items, these shares do not add up to 100%.
What do testers most often warn about on a MG RV8?: The most common advisory is "Fluid leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users", noted on 15.1% of all MG RV8 tests. An advisory is not a failure: it flags something that will likely need attention before the next test.
What mileage does a MG RV8 usually have at its MOT?: The average odometer reading recorded at test is 30,498 miles. This is the mileage across all tested examples of every age, not an annual figure, so treat it as a description of the fleet rather than a target for one car.

How this was worked out

Method and limits

Figures come from the DVSA anonymised MOT testing dataset, published under the Open Government Licence. Only class 4 initial tests are counted: retests are excluded so a car appears once, and abandoned tests are excluded entirely. No adjusted rate is shown because this model's tested examples do not cover enough of the national age and mileage range for standardisation to mean anything.

An MOT measures whether a car met a legal standard on the day. It is not a breakdown record, a service history or a running-cost estimate, and a pass rate is a property of a fleet rather than a prediction about one car.