Rover 111 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Rover 111 appears in 1,312 MOT tests spanning model years 1991–1998, and 73.0% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.7%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.4%) and lighting & signalling (12.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 172 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.3% versus 19.7%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 18.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.0% in 2021 to 24.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 111 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 483 | 72.3% | 27.7% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1996 | 346 | 73.1% | 26.9% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 364 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 100 | 75.0% | 25.0% | Lighting & signalling |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.4% | 163 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.2% | 160 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.1% | 146 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 134 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 109 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.0% | 53 |
| 7 | Tyres | 3.7% | 49 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.4% | 31 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 172 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 146 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 105 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 72 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 67 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 53 |
| 7 | Wipers | 49 |
| 8 | Rear fog lamp | 49 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.8% | 246 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.8% | 246 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.9% | 209 |
| 4 | Tyres | 15.6% | 204 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.2% | 121 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 8.2% | 107 |
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 | 371 | 19.7% |
| 30-60k | 596 | 27.2% |
| 60-90k | 276 | 35.5% |
| 90-120k | 48 | 31.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 339 | 28.0% |
| 2022 | 290 | 27.2% |
| 2023 | 244 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 243 | 29.2% |
| 2025 | 196 | 24.0% |
What to check before buying a Rover 111
- Brakes (12.4% 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 (12.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (11.1% 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 111?
73.0% of the 1,312 Rover 111 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.0% fail rate, across model years 1991–1998.
What does the Rover 111 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 12.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.2%).
How much does mileage affect 111 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.7% for cars in the 0-30k band and 31.3% for 90-120k, a 11.6-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,312 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.