1997 Rover 100 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 564 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Rover 100, the most common recorded failure areas were brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension. Its pass rate of 73.6% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 27.1% in the 60-90k group versus 20.5% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

564

MOT tests analysed

26.4%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

25.8

Avg age at test (yrs)

How it compares

Fail rate for this model-year against the segment and national averages for cars of a similar age.

Top failure categories

Most common MOT failure areas — 1997 Rover 100
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Brakes	14.0%	79
2	Lighting & signalling	13.3%	75
3	Suspension	11.0%	62
4	Body, structure & corrosion	8.9%	50
5	Emissions & environmental	7.8%	44
6	Visibility	4.3%	24

Percentage of tests with at least one failure recorded in each category.

Most common specific failures

The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.

Most frequently recorded failure items — 1997 Rover 100
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Service brake performance	78
2	Catalyst emissions	71
3	Component mounting prescribed areas	53
4	Headlamp aim	40
5	Service brake imbalance	37
6	Wipers	29

Top advisory categories

Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.

Most common MOT advisories — 1997 Rover 100
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Brakes	20.2%	114
2	Suspension	19.5%	110
3	Body, structure & corrosion	18.6%	105
4	Tyres	16.8%	95
5	Lighting & signalling	9.6%	54
6	Other defects	8.3%	47

Failure rate by mileage

Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1997 100
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	156	20.5%
30-60k	316	30.1%
60-90k	59	27.1%

Failure rate by age

How this model-year's MOT fail rate climbs as the cars get older.

Trend over time

Fail rate by dataset year — 1997 100
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	144	29.2%
2022	110	23.6%
2023	115	24.3%
2024	106	27.4%
2025	89	27.0%

What to check before buying a 1997 100

Before buying a 1997 Rover 100, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Brakes accounted for 14.0% of tests for this year.

Brakes (14.0% 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.
Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Suspension (11.0% 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

How many 1997 Rover 100s pass their MOT?

73.6% of the 564 1997 Rover 100 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.4% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Rover 100?

Brakes, recorded in 14.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.3%).

Does the 1997 100 get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.5% in the 0-30k band to 27.1% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 564 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.