1998 Rover 218 — MOT failures & pass rate
332 MOT tests on the 1998 Rover 218 are in this dataset, and 74.1% 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 lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (14.5%) and emissions & environmental (13.3%) 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 headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 64 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 31.4% versus 20.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 29.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 20.0% of tests failed in 2021 against 23.2% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.5% | 48 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 13.3% | 44 |
| 3 | Brakes | 13.0% | 43 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 32 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 21 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.7% | 19 |
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 | 64 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 38 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 31 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 23 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 17 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 16 |
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 | 29.2% | 97 |
| 2 | Suspension | 25.0% | 83 |
| 3 | Tyres | 14.5% | 48 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 36 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 7.8% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 7.5% | 25 |
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 | 55 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 101 | 24.8% |
| 90-120k | 77 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 70 | 31.4% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 70 | 20.0% |
| 2022 | 75 | 28.0% |
| 2023 | 62 | 25.8% |
| 2024 | 69 | 31.9% |
| 2025 | 56 | 23.2% |
What to check before buying a 1998 218
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 14.5% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (14.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (13.3% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (13.0% 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 218s pass their MOT?
74.1% of the 332 1998 Rover 218 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Rover 218?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.5% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (13.3%).
Does the 1998 218 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 31.4% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 332 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.