1993 Rover 214 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 369 MOT tests, the 1993 Rover 214 recorded a 74.0% pass rate. That is 2.6 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.4%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (12.2%) and lighting & signalling (9.5%) 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 exhaust system — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 52 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1993 214 fails 29.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 28.6% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 20.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 24.7% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.1% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 45 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 35 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 34 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.2% | 23 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.0% | 22 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.9% | 18 |
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 | 52 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
| 3 | Exhaust system | 19 |
| 4 | Wipers | 18 |
| 5 | Joints | 13 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 11 |
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 | 20.3% | 75 |
| 2 | Other defects | 17.6% | 65 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.4% | 53 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 14.4% | 53 |
| 5 | Tyres | 13.0% | 48 |
| 6 | Brakes | 11.1% | 41 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 84 | 29.8% |
| 60-90k | 142 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 65 | 36.9% |
| 120-150k | 35 | 28.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 85 | 24.7% |
| 2022 | 82 | 29.3% |
| 2023 | 60 | 16.7% |
| 2024 | 69 | 27.5% |
| 2025 | 73 | 30.1% |
What to check before buying a 1993 214
On a 1993 214, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (12.2% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.2% 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+.
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 1993 Rover 214s pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 369 1993 Rover 214 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Rover 214?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 12.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.5%).
Does the 1993 214 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 29.8% in the 30-60k band to 28.6% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 369 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.