1995 Rover 216 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 868 MOT tests, the 1995 Rover 216 recorded a 76.3% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 24.3%, so the 1995 216 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in body, structure & corrosion, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — body, structure & corrosion (10.4%) and lighting & signalling (10.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, component mounting prescribed areas and catalyst emissions — service brake performance alone was recorded 56 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 15.4% in the 30-60k band and 33.3% in the 150k+ band, a 17.9-point spread — more than double.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.3% in 2021 to 21.5% 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 | 10.4% | 90 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.1% | 88 |
| 3 | Brakes | 8.6% | 75 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.0% | 69 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 49 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 43 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service brake performance | 56 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 49 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 46 |
| 4 | Joints | 45 |
| 5 | Wipers | 37 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 29 |
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 | 26.4% | 229 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 21.4% | 186 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.6% | 179 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.5% | 178 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 163 |
| 6 | Brakes | 16.7% | 145 |
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 | 169 | 15.4% |
| 60-90k | 269 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 239 | 27.2% |
| 120-150k | 112 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 60 | 33.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 231 | 27.3% |
| 2022 | 187 | 20.3% |
| 2023 | 169 | 22.5% |
| 2024 | 151 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 130 | 21.5% |
What to check before buying a 1995 216
On a 1995 216, body, structure & corrosion is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.4% 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 (10.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.6% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
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 1995 Rover 216s pass their MOT?
76.3% of the 868 1995 Rover 216 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1995 Rover 216?
Body, structure & corrosion, recorded in 10.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (10.1%).
Does the 1995 216 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 30-60k band to 33.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 868 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.