Rover 416 MOT pass rate & common failures
3,216 MOT tests on the Rover 416 (1983–2021) give it a 72.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 24.9% of the time, so this is 2.2pp worse than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, suspension and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (13.2%) and suspension (10.4%) 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 service brake performance — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 329 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 19.9% in the 0-30k band and 30.3% in the 150k+ band, a 10.4-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 32.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.2% in 2021 to 25.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 416 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 91 | 72.5% | 27.5% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1991 | 117 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 98 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1993 | 147 | 79.6% | 20.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 262 | 72.9% | 27.1% | Suspension |
| 1995 | 455 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1996 | 286 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1997 | 384 | 73.2% | 26.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 649 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 658 | 68.7% | 31.3% | Suspension |
| 2000 | 59 | 64.4% | 35.6% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 423 |
| 2 | Suspension | 10.4% | 334 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 329 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.4% | 304 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.1% | 261 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.2% | 166 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.2% | 134 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 102 |
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 | 329 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 303 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 204 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 177 |
| 5 | Joints | 150 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 124 |
| 7 | Pins and bushes | 113 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 113 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 32.5% | 1,045 |
| 2 | Brakes | 24.0% | 771 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.1% | 743 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 19.0% | 612 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 609 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.1% | 551 |
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 | 136 | 19.9% |
| 30-60k | 870 | 23.3% |
| 60-90k | 1,125 | 26.2% |
| 90-120k | 608 | 31.3% |
| 120-150k | 282 | 34.8% |
| 150k+ | 195 | 30.3% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 972 | 28.2% |
| 2022 | 766 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 609 | 25.4% |
| 2024 | 474 | 26.6% |
| 2025 | 395 | 25.6% |
What to check before buying a Rover 416
- Lighting & signalling (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (10.4% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.2% 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+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 416?
72.9% of the 3,216 Rover 416 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.1% fail rate, across model years 1983–2021.
What does the Rover 416 most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 13.2% of tests, then suspension (10.4%).
How much does mileage affect 416 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 19.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 30.3% for 150k+, a 10.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,216 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.