1997 Rover 216 — MOT failures & pass rate
635 MOT tests on the 1997 Rover 216 are in this dataset, and 72.6% of them passed. That is 2.3 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 25.1%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (12.4%) and lighting & signalling (11.8%) 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 110 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 21.6% in the 0-30k band and 29.1% in the 90-120k band, a 7.6-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 26.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 33.1% in 2021 to 23.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 12.4% | 79 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 75 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 69 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.9% | 50 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 44 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 29 |
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 | 110 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 70 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 38 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 23 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 23 |
| 6 | Wipers | 21 |
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 | 26.6% | 169 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.4% | 142 |
| 3 | Tyres | 22.4% | 142 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.1% | 121 |
| 5 | Other defects | 15.8% | 100 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 13.1% | 83 |
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 | 51 | 21.6% |
| 30-60k | 139 | 27.3% |
| 60-90k | 251 | 27.5% |
| 90-120k | 175 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 151 | 33.1% |
| 2022 | 138 | 26.1% |
| 2023 | 127 | 24.4% |
| 2024 | 114 | 28.1% |
| 2025 | 105 | 23.8% |
What to check before buying a 1997 216
On a 1997 216, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (12.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% 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 1997 Rover 216s pass their MOT?
72.6% of the 635 1997 Rover 216 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Rover 216?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 12.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 1997 216 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.6% in the 0-30k band to 29.1% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 635 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.