Rover 220 MOT pass rate & common failures
1,496 MOT tests on the Rover 220 (1985–2005) give it a 77.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (24.6% fail rate), the 220 comes out 2.0pp better. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.2%) and lighting & signalling (10.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are service brake performance, catalyst emissions and component mounting prescribed areas — service brake performance alone was recorded 133 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 8.0% in the 0-30k band and 27.5% in the 150k+ band, a 19.5-point spread — more than double.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 27.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 220 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 232 | 80.2% | 19.8% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 245 | 78.8% | 21.2% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 379 | 81.0% | 19.0% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 106 | 82.1% | 17.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 107 | 82.2% | 17.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 175 | 67.4% | 32.6% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 201 | 68.2% | 31.8% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.2% | 182 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 10.0% | 149 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.5% | 127 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 99 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 78 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 74 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 48 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.9% | 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 | 133 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 99 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 87 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 83 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 62 |
| 6 | Wipers | 54 |
| 7 | Joints | 53 |
| 8 | Prescribed areas | 50 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 27.7% | 414 |
| 2 | Brakes | 21.7% | 325 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.1% | 316 |
| 4 | Tyres | 16.4% | 246 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 15.0% | 224 |
| 6 | Other defects | 12.7% | 190 |
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 | 50 | 8.0% |
| 30-60k | 145 | 17.9% |
| 60-90k | 401 | 16.5% |
| 90-120k | 457 | 25.4% |
| 120-150k | 299 | 28.8% |
| 150k+ | 142 | 27.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,064 | 19.6% |
| Diesel | 432 | 29.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 386 | 25.7% |
| 2022 | 328 | 21.0% |
| 2023 | 281 | 22.4% |
| 2024 | 253 | 18.6% |
| 2025 | 248 | 24.2% |
What to check before buying a Rover 220
- Brakes (12.2% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (10.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.5% 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+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 220?
77.4% of the 1,496 Rover 220 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 22.6% fail rate, across model years 1985–2005.
What does the Rover 220 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 12.2% of tests, then lighting & signalling (10.0%).
How much does mileage affect 220 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 8.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.5% for 150k+, a 19.5-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,496 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.