1997 Rover 114 — MOT failures & pass rate
420 MOT tests on the 1997 Rover 114 are in this dataset, and 75.9% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (25.1% fail rate), the 1997 114 comes out 1.1pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 45 times.
A 60-90k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 32.4% versus 21.2%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 24.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.6% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 63 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 42 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 9.3% | 39 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.6% | 32 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.7% | 28 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 16 |
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 | 45 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 43 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 29 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 27 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 25 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 22 |
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 | 24.5% | 103 |
| 2 | Suspension | 20.7% | 87 |
| 3 | Tyres | 15.5% | 65 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.8% | 58 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.2% | 47 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 5.0% | 21 |
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 | 99 | 21.2% |
| 30-60k | 227 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 71 | 32.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 106 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 91 | 26.4% |
| 2023 | 77 | 20.8% |
| 2024 | 73 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 73 | 26.0% |
What to check before buying a 1997 114
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.0% 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 (9.3% 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 1997 Rover 114s pass their MOT?
75.9% of the 420 1997 Rover 114 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Rover 114?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by brakes (10.0%).
Does the 1997 114 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 420 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.