1997 Rover 114 — MOT failures & pass rate

Across 420 MOT tests analysed for the 1997 Rover 114, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental. Its pass rate of 75.9% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (76.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 32.4% in the 60-90k group versus 21.2% in the 0-30k group.

Pass rate

420

MOT tests analysed

24.1%

Fail rate

in line with

vs cars of similar age

25.8

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 114
#	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

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 114
#	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.

Most common MOT advisories — 1997 Rover 114
#	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.

MOT fail rate by recorded mileage band.

Fail rate by recorded mileage — 1997 114
Mileage band	Tests	Fail rate
0-30k	99	21.2%
30-60k	227	21.1%
60-90k	71	32.4%

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 114
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

Before buying a 1997 Rover 114, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 15.0% of tests for this year.

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 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.