1999 Rover 214 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 815 MOT tests analysed for the 1999 Rover 214, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and body, structure & corrosion. Its pass rate of 72.9% was below the average for cars of a similar age (75.5%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 95 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 11.0% | 90 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 74 |
| 4 | Brakes | 8.5% | 69 |
| 5 | Suspension | 7.4% | 60 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 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 | 113 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 61 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 42 |
| 4 | Joints | 40 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 34 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 32 |
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 | 25.3% | 206 |
| 2 | Suspension | 22.2% | 181 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 19.6% | 160 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.5% | 159 |
| 5 | Brakes | 16.4% | 134 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.0% | 114 |
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 | 87 | 21.8% |
| 30-60k | 341 | 24.3% |
| 60-90k | 240 | 31.3% |
| 90-120k | 95 | 23.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 255 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 217 | 30.4% |
| 2023 | 151 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 113 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 79 | 27.9% |
What to check before buying a 1999 214
Before buying a 1999 Rover 214, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 11.7% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (11.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.1% 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+.
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 1999 Rover 214s pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 815 1999 Rover 214 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Rover 214?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (11.0%).
Does the 1999 214 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.8% in the 0-30k band to 23.2% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 815 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.