1996 Rover 111 — MOT failures & pass rate
346 MOT tests on the 1996 Rover 111 are in this dataset, and 73.1% of them passed. That is 2.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.7%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.4%) and lighting & signalling (10.7%) 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 50 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.1% in the 0-30k band and 30.4% in the 60-90k band, a 9.3-point spread.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.3% in 2021 to 26.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.4% | 43 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.7% | 37 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.5% | 33 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.7% | 30 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.4% | 22 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.6% | 16 |
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 | 50 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 40 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 30 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 16 |
| 5 | Exhaust system | 15 |
| 6 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
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 | 22.8% | 79 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.2% | 63 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.6% | 54 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.3% | 53 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.0% | 31 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 30 |
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 | 109 | 21.1% |
| 30-60k | 173 | 28.9% |
| 60-90k | 56 | 30.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 92 | 28.3% |
| 2022 | 77 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 60 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 64 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 53 | 26.4% |
What to check before buying a 1996 111
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 12.4% of tests. Start there.
- 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 (10.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (9.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1996 Rover 111s pass their MOT?
73.1% of the 346 1996 Rover 111 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Rover 111?
Brakes, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.7%).
Does the 1996 111 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.1% in the 0-30k band to 30.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 346 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.