1994 Rover 416 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1994 Rover 416 passed 72.9% of its 262 recorded MOT tests. All cars of a similar age fail 24.0% of the time, so this is 3.1pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (10.7%) and body, structure & corrosion (9.5%) 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 position lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 36 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1994 416 fails 35.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 36.8% at 120-150k, a spread of only 1.8 points.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 31.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 27.5% in 2024, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 10.7% | 28 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.5% | 25 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.5% | 25 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 7.6% | 20 |
| 5 | Brakes | 5.3% | 14 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 14 |
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 | 36 |
| 2 | Catalyst emissions | 27 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 13 |
| 4 | Exhaust system | 11 |
| 5 | Joints | 11 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 10 |
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 | 31.3% | 82 |
| 2 | Tyres | 20.6% | 54 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 20.2% | 53 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.9% | 47 |
| 5 | Other defects | 16.0% | 42 |
| 6 | Brakes | 15.3% | 40 |
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 | 60 | 35.0% |
| 60-90k | 100 | 16.0% |
| 90-120k | 48 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 38 | 36.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 61 | 29.5% |
| 2023 | 50 | 22.0% |
| 2024 | 40 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 1994 416
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 10.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (10.7% 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 (9.5% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (9.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£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 1994 Rover 416s pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 262 1994 Rover 416 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Rover 416?
Suspension, recorded in 10.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.5%).
Does the 1994 416 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 35.0% in the 30-60k band to 36.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 262 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.