1997 Rover 111 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1997 Rover 111 passed 72.5% of its 364 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 25.1% of the time, so this is 2.3pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.9%) and lighting & signalling (12.4%) 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 headlamp aim — service brake performance alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.6% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 43.9% once past 60-90k — 2.4× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 21.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.9% in 2021 to 22.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | 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 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 25 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 23 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 19 |
| 6 | Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas | 18 |
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 | 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.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 102 | 18.6% |
| 30-60k | 161 | 25.5% |
| 60-90k | 82 | 43.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| 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
On a 1997 111, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.