1996 Rover 216 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1996 Rover 216 passed 73.2% of its 519 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.7% of the time, so this is 2.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (13.5%) and lighting & signalling (11.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 124 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 27.8% in the 30-60k band and 33.9% in the 120-150k band, a 6.2-point spread.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 25.1% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.7% in 2021 to 23.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 13.5% | 70 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 60 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 55 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.4% | 49 |
| 5 | Suspension | 5.8% | 30 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 24 |
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 | 124 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 49 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 25 |
| 4 | Joints | 24 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 22 |
| 6 | Exhaust system | 20 |
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 | 25.1% | 130 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.5% | 117 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.0% | 109 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.9% | 103 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.8% | 82 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 15.4% | 80 |
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 | 126 | 27.8% |
| 60-90k | 158 | 20.9% |
| 90-120k | 136 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 56 | 33.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 136 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 125 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 100 | 26.0% |
| 2024 | 80 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 78 | 23.1% |
What to check before buying a 1996 216
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 13.5% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (13.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.6% 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 1996 Rover 216s pass their MOT?
73.2% of the 519 1996 Rover 216 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Rover 216?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 13.5% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.6%).
Does the 1996 216 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 27.8% in the 30-60k band to 33.9% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 519 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.