1998 Rover 216 — MOT failures & pass rate
869 MOT tests on the 1998 Rover 216 are in this dataset, and 74.7% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (12.3%) and lighting & signalling (12.3%) 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 142 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 43.2% versus 8.3%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 27.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 23.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.6% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 12.3% | 107 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 107 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.4% | 99 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 55 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.1% | 53 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.6% | 49 |
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 | 142 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 85 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 43 |
| 4 | Wipers | 40 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 39 |
| 6 | Service brake imbalance | 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 | Brakes | 27.2% | 236 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.3% | 211 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.0% | 174 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.7% | 145 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 127 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 12.0% | 104 |
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 | 36 | 8.3% |
| 30-60k | 250 | 21.2% |
| 60-90k | 351 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 187 | 27.8% |
| 120-150k | 37 | 43.2% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 213 | 23.0% |
| 2022 | 205 | 26.3% |
| 2023 | 176 | 25.0% |
| 2024 | 147 | 26.5% |
| 2025 | 128 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 1998 216
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (12.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.4% 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 1998 Rover 216s pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 869 1998 Rover 216 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Rover 216?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.3%).
Does the 1998 216 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.3% in the 0-30k band to 43.2% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 869 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.