Rover 211 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Rover 211 appears in 534 MOT tests spanning model years 1998–2000, and 72.9% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 1.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (10.9%) and body, structure & corrosion (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 56 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.0% in the 0-30k band and 34.7% in the 90-120k band, a 15.8-point spread.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 28.2% of tests failed in 2021 against 32.4% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
By model year
Every 211 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 183 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 277 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2000 | 74 | 67.6% | 32.4% | Body, structure & corrosion |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 10.9% | 58 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 54 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 8.4% | 45 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.2% | 44 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.0% | 32 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.4% | 29 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.9% | 26 |
| 8 | Visibility | 4.5% | 24 |
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 | 56 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 34 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 33 |
| 4 | Joints | 33 |
| 5 | Prescribed areas | 25 |
| 6 | Wipers | 22 |
| 7 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 18 |
| 8 | Registration plate lamp(s) | 17 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 27.2% | 145 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 120 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.6% | 94 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 15.9% | 85 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.2% | 81 |
| 6 | Suspension | 14.4% | 77 |
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 | 58 | 19.0% |
| 30-60k | 229 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 148 | 27.0% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 34.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 163 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 113 | 23.0% |
| 2023 | 106 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 81 | 23.5% |
| 2025 | 71 | 32.4% |
What to check before buying a Rover 211
- Lighting & signalling (10.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.1% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- Emissions & environmental (8.4% 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 211?
72.9% of the 534 Rover 211 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.2% fail rate, across model years 1998–2000.
What does the Rover 211 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 10.9% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (10.1%).
How much does mileage affect 211 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 34.7% for 90-120k, a 15.8-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 534 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.