IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2020 MG ZS (Modern Petrol)

The July 2020 facelift brought a larger grille, LED headlights and a 10.1-inch touchscreen, dropped the Explore trim and added an electronic parking brake and a digital instrument cluster.

What changed for 2020

  • •New grille, LED headlights, front bumper and fog light housings
  • •10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and a full LCD instrument cluster
  • •Electronic parking brake replacing the manual handbrake; Explore trim dropped

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Electronic parking brake faults leaving the rear brakes dragging
  • !Premature front tyre wear on the larger facelift wheels
  • !Corroded rear brake discs on low-mileage facelift cars
4
Known Issues
1
Serious
1
Moderate
2
Minor

All Known Issues

Premature Clutch Wear (Manual)

SeriousGearbox & Transmission

Some manual ZS owners have reported that the clutch wears out significantly earlier than expected.

Est. Repair Cost: £500–£800
Warning Signs:

Slipping clutch, High bite point, Smell of burning after hills

What to Inspect:
  • Test clutch engagement in high gear/low speed
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Stalling When Cold (Petrol)

ModerateEngine

Some petrol ZS models have been reported to stall when cold, particularly the DVVT-equipped engines. This is often linked to software calibration or dirty throttle bodies.

Est. Repair Cost: Software Update / £50–£150
Warning Signs:

Engine cutting out when pulling away from cold, Rough idle on first start, Requires throttle blip to keep running

What to Inspect:
  • Test drive from cold
  • Check for any outstanding software updates
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Infotainment Lag and Freezing

MinorElectrics & Electronics

The central touchscreen is known for being slow to boot and occasionally freezing.

Est. Repair Cost: Software Update / £200
Warning Signs:

Screen unresponsive, Bluetooth dropping out

What to Inspect:
  • Test responsiveness of climate controls via the screen
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

TPMS Warning Faults

MinorElectrics & Electronics

The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System can display false warnings or fail to reset after adjusting tyre pressures. Sensors may drop out intermittently, especially in cold weather.

Est. Repair Cost: £50–£150
Warning Signs:

Persistent TPMS warning light, TPMS showing dashes instead of pressures, False low-pressure alerts

What to Inspect:
  • Check all tyre pressures are correct
  • Try a TPMS reset via the infotainment menu
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research Team

Buying Tips for 2020 MG ZS (Modern Petrol)

  • Check the electronic parking brake applies and releases smoothly on a slope
  • Confirm the touchscreen runs the latest software and responds quickly
  • Inspect the front tyres and ask whether the clutch has been replaced