Rover 114 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 11 model years and 1,366 tests, the Rover 114 passes its MOT 75.5% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail at 24.9%, so the 114 sits squarely on the average. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.9%) and brakes (10.5%) 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 138 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.9% versus 18.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 22.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 114 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 334 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 320 | 74.7% | 25.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1997 | 420 | 75.9% | 24.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 282 | 73.0% | 27.0% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.9% | 162 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.5% | 144 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.9% | 122 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.8% | 107 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 92 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 57 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.1% | 42 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.6% | 35 |
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 | 138 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 132 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 84 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 74 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 63 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 58 |
| 7 | Wipers | 52 |
| 8 | Rbt (sp) | 45 |
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 | 22.6% | 309 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.0% | 260 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.2% | 208 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 199 |
| 5 | Other defects | 9.1% | 124 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 8.6% | 118 |
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 | 318 | 18.9% |
| 30-60k | 683 | 24.6% |
| 60-90k | 265 | 27.6% |
| 90-120k | 83 | 34.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 344 | 25.0% |
| 2022 | 300 | 27.3% |
| 2023 | 258 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 243 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 221 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a Rover 114
- Lighting & signalling (11.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.5% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (8.9% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 114?
75.5% of the 1,366 Rover 114 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 24.4% fail rate, across model years 1992–2002.
What does the Rover 114 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.9% of tests, then brakes (10.5%).
How much does mileage affect 114 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 34.9% for 90-120k, a 16.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,366 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.