1999 Rover 214 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 815 MOT tests, the 1999 Rover 214 recorded a 72.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 26.3%, so the 1999 214 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (11.7%) and emissions & environmental (11.0%) 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 113 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 214 fails 21.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 23.2% at 90-120k, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 25.5% of tests failed in 2021 against 27.9% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
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
On a 1999 214, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 11.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- 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 2026-07-27. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.