Rover 100 MOT pass rate & common failures
1,392 MOT tests on the Rover 100 (1980–2020) give it a 74.4% pass rate. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (24.8% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.9%) and brakes (13.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 187 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 100 fails 20.1% of the time in the 0-30k band and 20.9% at 90-120k, a spread of only 0.9 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 18.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.4% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 100 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 206 | 73.8% | 26.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 366 | 74.6% | 25.4% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 564 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 197 | 73.6% | 26.4% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.9% | 193 |
| 2 | Brakes | 13.9% | 193 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.8% | 137 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 109 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.6% | 106 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 69 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.3% | 46 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.0% | 42 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 187 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 161 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 127 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 112 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 87 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 62 |
| 7 | Wipers | 61 |
| 8 | Prescribed areas | 55 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.3% | 254 |
| 2 | Suspension | 17.6% | 245 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.4% | 242 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.2% | 225 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 8.3% | 115 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.2% | 114 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 399 | 20.1% |
| 30-60k | 718 | 27.9% |
| 60-90k | 218 | 29.8% |
| 90-120k | 43 | 20.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,359 | 25.6% |
| Diesel | 33 | 24.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 365 | 27.4% |
| 2022 | 313 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 259 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 243 | 24.7% |
| 2025 | 212 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a Rover 100
- Lighting & signalling (13.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (13.9% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
- Suspension (9.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 100?
74.4% of the 1,392 Rover 100 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.6% fail rate, across model years 1980–2020.
What does the Rover 100 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.9% of tests, then brakes (13.9%).
How much does mileage affect 100 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 20.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 20.9% for 90-120k, a 0.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,392 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.