2004 Rover 25 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 4,810 MOT tests, the 2004 Rover 25 recorded a 75.1% pass rate. Against superminis of a similar age (29.2% fail rate), the 2004 25 comes out 4.2pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and visibility.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.8%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, wipers and headlamp aim — joints alone was recorded 470 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 16.3% in the 0-30k band and 28.7% in the 150k+ band, a 12.4-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 25.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.6% in 2021 to 23.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 662 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.0% | 578 |
| 3 | Visibility | 5.6% | 271 |
| 4 | Brakes | 5.3% | 255 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.1% | 244 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.8% | 230 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 470 |
| 2 | Wipers | 217 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 210 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 183 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 181 |
| 6 | Position lamp | 173 |
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 | 25.9% | 1,247 |
| 2 | Suspension | 19.8% | 954 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 902 |
| 4 | Brakes | 18.1% | 872 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 13.8% | 663 |
| 6 | Steering | 13.6% | 656 |
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 | 380 | 16.3% |
| 30-60k | 1,781 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,673 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 684 | 28.1% |
| 120-150k | 191 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,531 | 25.0% |
| Diesel | 276 | 23.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,499 | 25.6% |
| 2022 | 1,134 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 918 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 728 | 25.6% |
| 2025 | 531 | 23.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 25
On a 2004 25, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.8% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (13.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.0% 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+.
- Visibility (5.6% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
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 2004 Rover 25s pass their MOT?
75.1% of the 4,810 2004 Rover 25 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.9% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Rover 25?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.8% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.0%).
Does the 2004 25 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 16.3% in the 0-30k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 4,810 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.