1999 Rover 414 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Rover 414 passed 66.7% of its 369 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 26.3% of the time, so this is 7.0pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, emissions & environmental and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.4%) and emissions & environmental (14.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, catalyst emissions and headlamp aim — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 65 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1999 414 fails 31.7% of the time in the 30-60k band and 33.3% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.7 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 33.1% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.4% | 57 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 14.1% | 52 |
| 3 | Suspension | 13.0% | 48 |
| 4 | Brakes | 12.5% | 46 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 45 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.2% | 23 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 65 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 52 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 37 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 21 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 20 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 19 |
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 | 33.1% | 122 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.0% | 118 |
| 3 | Tyres | 21.7% | 80 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 74 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 20.1% | 74 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 15.7% | 58 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 120 | 31.7% |
| 60-90k | 103 | 35.9% |
| 90-120k | 64 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 39 | 33.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | 33.0% |
| 2022 | 98 | 32.6% |
| 2023 | 73 | 37.0% |
| 2024 | 45 | 28.9% |
| 2025 | 41 | 34.2% |
What to check before buying a 1999 414
On a 1999 414, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Emissions & environmental (14.1% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Suspension (13.0% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 1999 Rover 414s pass their MOT?
66.7% of the 369 1999 Rover 414 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 33.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Rover 414?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.4% of tests, followed by emissions & environmental (14.1%).
Does the 1999 414 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 31.7% in the 30-60k band to 33.3% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 369 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.