Rover 25 MOT pass rate & common failures
28,262 MOT tests on the Rover 25 (1998–2007) give it a 75.0% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.3% fail rate), the 25 comes out 4.3pp better. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (11.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — joints alone was recorded 2,409 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 17.0% in the 0-30k band and 29.1% in the 150k+ band, a 12.1-point spread.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 24.9% of the time against 25.9% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.4% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
By model year
Every 25 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 109 | 63.3% | 36.7% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2000 | 3,303 | 74.9% | 25.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2001 | 5,353 | 74.0% | 26.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2002 | 5,127 | 75.3% | 24.8% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 2003 | 5,777 | 75.5% | 24.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2004 | 4,810 | 75.1% | 24.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2005 | 3,249 | 76.2% | 23.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 477 | 74.2% | 25.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2007 | 54 | 74.1% | 25.9% | Body, structure & corrosion |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.3% | 3,757 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.6% | 3,283 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.6% | 2,147 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.7% | 1,614 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 1,492 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.4% | 1,247 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,216 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.7% | 775 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 2,409 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,528 |
| 3 | Wipers | 1,326 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 1,196 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 1,161 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 1,115 |
| 7 | Position lamp | 955 |
| 8 | Exhaust system | 900 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 25.4% | 7,165 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.2% | 6,278 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.3% | 5,459 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 5,347 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 3,284 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.3% | 3,208 |
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 | 2,389 | 17.0% |
| 30-60k | 10,769 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 9,115 | 26.3% |
| 90-120k | 4,118 | 28.5% |
| 120-150k | 1,263 | 30.0% |
| 150k+ | 598 | 29.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 26,343 | 24.9% |
| Diesel | 1,916 | 25.9% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,984 | 25.5% |
| 2022 | 6,858 | 24.6% |
| 2023 | 5,313 | 25.2% |
| 2024 | 4,027 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 3,080 | 24.8% |
What to check before buying a Rover 25
- Lighting & signalling (13.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.6% 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+.
- Brakes (7.6% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 25?
75.0% of the 28,262 Rover 25 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.0% fail rate, across model years 1998–2007.
What does the Rover 25 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.3% of tests, then body, structure & corrosion (11.6%).
How much does mileage affect 25 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 17.0% for cars in the 0-30k band and 29.1% for 150k+, a 12.1-point difference.
Is the petrol or diesel 25 more reliable at MOT time?
On MOT-testable defects the petrol fails 24.9% of the time against 25.9% for the diesel. This covers testable items only, not engine or gearbox reliability.
Methodology & source. Based on 28,262 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.