2000 Rover 25 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,303 MOT tests analysed for the 2000 Rover 25, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.9% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (75.1%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 28.8% in the 150k+ group versus 15.4% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.9% | 426 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 343 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.8% | 324 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.3% | 207 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.7% | 154 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 3.8% | 126 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 216 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 201 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 190 |
| 4 | Wipers | 133 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 130 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 127 |
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 | 24.4% | 806 |
| 2 | Brakes | 23.7% | 782 |
| 3 | Suspension | 19.8% | 654 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 603 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.6% | 482 |
| 6 | Other defects | 13.9% | 458 |
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 | 285 | 15.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,259 | 24.0% |
| 60-90k | 1,052 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 474 | 28.7% |
| 120-150k | 157 | 22.9% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 28.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,132 | 24.8% |
| Diesel | 171 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,043 | 25.4% |
| 2022 | 807 | 26.0% |
| 2023 | 604 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 469 | 24.3% |
| 2025 | 380 | 26.8% |
What to check before buying a 2000 25
Before buying a 2000 Rover 25, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 12.9% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (12.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.4% 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 (9.8% 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 2000 Rover 25s pass their MOT?
74.9% of the 3,303 2000 Rover 25 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Rover 25?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.9% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.4%).
Does the 2000 25 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 15.4% in the 0-30k band to 28.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,303 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.