Owners of one in five of the last MG Rover’s built in the UK have suffered from manufacturing faults, according to Warranty Direct, which offers warranties to replace the defunct manufacturer’s voided ones.

Electrics account for 29 per cent of all failures recorded in the firm’s warranty claims.

Owners are said to have regularly complained of illuminating warning lights, malfunctioning fans and window motors and even one case where the horn and wipers were activated on pressing the electric window switch.

Transmission failure accounts for 25 per cent of reported breakdowns. Newer Rovers (under three years old) have suffered from six times as many fuel system faults than MG Rovers aged 4-6 years old.

When MG Rover collapsed in April an estimated 150,000 owners were left without manufacturer warranty protection.