2001 Rover 25 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 5,353 MOT tests, the 2001 Rover 25 recorded a 74.0% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.5% fail rate), the 2001 25 comes out 3.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.0%) and body, structure & corrosion (11.2%) 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 service brake performance — joints alone was recorded 419 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.2% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.8% once past 150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 25.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.7% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.0% | 693 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 597 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 511 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.1% | 379 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.2% | 279 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.1% | 220 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 419 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 389 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 304 |
| 4 | Wipers | 232 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 230 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 200 |
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 | 25.9% | 1,388 |
| 2 | Tyres | 25.1% | 1,343 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 1,012 |
| 4 | Suspension | 17.6% | 945 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.9% | 637 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 617 |
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 | 476 | 20.2% |
| 30-60k | 2,002 | 23.8% |
| 60-90k | 1,669 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 831 | 30.9% |
| 120-150k | 236 | 32.6% |
| 150k+ | 134 | 32.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 5,017 | 26.0% |
| Diesel | 336 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,728 | 26.7% |
| 2022 | 1,300 | 26.7% |
| 2023 | 999 | 26.5% |
| 2024 | 755 | 23.7% |
| 2025 | 571 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2001 25
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (13.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% 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 (9.6% 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
How many 2001 Rover 25s pass their MOT?
74.0% of the 5,353 2001 Rover 25 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Rover 25?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.2%).
Does the 2001 25 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.2% in the 0-30k band to 32.8% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,353 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.