2005 Rover 25 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Rover 25 passed 76.2% of its 3,249 recorded MOT tests. That is 5.0 percentage points better than superminis of a similar age, which fail at 28.8%. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests against 11.2% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and wipers — joints alone was recorded 286 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 28.3% versus 11.9%.
Tyres is the most common advisory, noted on 23.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is worsening — 22.9% of tests failed in 2021 against 26.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.3% | 498 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.2% | 365 |
| 3 | Brakes | 5.3% | 172 |
| 4 | Suspension | 5.3% | 171 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 160 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.8% | 156 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 286 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 221 |
| 3 | Wipers | 152 |
| 4 | Position lamp | 145 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 144 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 144 |
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 | 23.7% | 769 |
| 2 | Suspension | 21.9% | 712 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.1% | 555 |
| 4 | Steering | 16.8% | 545 |
| 5 | Brakes | 14.9% | 483 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 14.3% | 464 |
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 | 286 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 1,183 | 22.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,203 | 26.9% |
| 90-120k | 412 | 25.7% |
| 120-150k | 119 | 26.1% |
| 150k+ | 46 | 28.3% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,025 | 23.7% |
| Diesel | 224 | 25.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 996 | 22.9% |
| 2022 | 795 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 618 | 25.9% |
| 2024 | 459 | 23.3% |
| 2025 | 381 | 26.3% |
What to check before buying a 2005 25
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.2% 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 (5.3% 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 2005 Rover 25s pass their MOT?
76.2% of the 3,249 2005 Rover 25 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Rover 25?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.2%).
Does the 2005 25 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 11.9% in the 0-30k band to 28.3% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,249 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.