1993 Rover 216 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 548 MOT tests, the 1993 Rover 216 recorded a 77.4% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 23.5%, so the 1993 216 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (10.2%) and lighting & signalling (7.5%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, joints and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 43 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1993 216 fails 20.6% of the time in the 30-60k band and 21.7% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.2 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 27.2% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 24.6% in 2021 to 20.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 56 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 7.5% | 41 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.8% | 37 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 6.0% | 33 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.5% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 28 |
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 | 43 |
| 2 | Joints | 34 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 30 |
| 4 | Wipers | 24 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 21 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 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 | Suspension | 27.2% | 149 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.7% | 97 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.3% | 84 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.6% | 80 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 13.7% | 75 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.5% | 52 |
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 | 141 | 20.6% |
| 60-90k | 141 | 22.0% |
| 90-120k | 146 | 21.9% |
| 120-150k | 69 | 21.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 138 | 24.6% |
| 2022 | 131 | 22.1% |
| 2023 | 112 | 23.2% |
| 2024 | 85 | 21.2% |
| 2025 | 82 | 20.7% |
What to check before buying a 1993 216
On a 1993 216, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.2% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (7.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (6.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 216s pass their MOT?
77.4% of the 548 1993 Rover 216 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 22.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Rover 216?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 10.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (7.5%).
Does the 1993 216 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.6% in the 30-60k band to 21.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 548 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.