1997 Rover 111 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 364 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Rover 111, the most common recorded failure areas were suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 72.5% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.4%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 43.9% in the 60-90k group versus 18.6% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

364

MOT tests analysed

27.5%

Fail rate

worse than

vs cars of similar age

25.7

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 111
#	Category	% of tests affected	Tests
1	Suspension	12.9%	47
2	Lighting & signalling	12.4%	45
3	Brakes	11.5%	42
4	Emissions & environmental	8.8%	32
5	Body, structure & corrosion	8.5%	31
6	Tyres	4.1%	15

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 111
#	Failure item	Times recorded
1	Service brake performance	43
2	Catalyst emissions	41
3	Headlamp aim	25
4	Component mounting prescribed areas	23
5	Prescribed areas	19
6	Service brake imbalance	18

Top advisory categories

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

Most common MOT advisories — 1997 Rover 111
#	Category	% of tests with advisory	Tests
1	Suspension	21.7%	79
2	Tyres	17.6%	64
3	Brakes	17.0%	62
4	Body, structure & corrosion	16.8%	61
5	Lighting & signalling	11.0%	40
6	Other defects	9.6%	35

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 111
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	102	18.6%
30-60k	161	25.5%
60-90k	82	43.9%

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 111
Dataset year	Tests	Fail rate
2021	97	29.9%
2022	89	27.0%
2023	53	24.5%
2024	72	30.6%
2025	53	22.6%

What to check before buying a 1997 111

Before buying a 1997 Rover 111, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Suspension accounted for 12.9% of tests for this year.

Suspension (12.9% 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.
Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Brakes (11.5% 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.

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 111s pass their MOT?

72.5% of the 364 1997 Rover 111 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.5% fail rate.

What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Rover 111?

Suspension, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.4%).

Does the 1997 111 get worse with mileage?

Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.6% in the 0-30k band to 43.9% in the 60-90k band.

Methodology & source. Based on 364 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.