1998 Rover 416 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 649 MOT tests, the 1998 Rover 416 recorded a 71.0% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (25.8% fail rate), the 1998 416 comes out 3.2pp worse. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, brakes and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests against 11.9% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and headlamp aim — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 95 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 21.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 37.0% once past 120-150k.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 28.7% in 2021 to 21.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 103 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 77 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 10.6% | 69 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.0% | 65 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.1% | 59 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.1% | 33 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 95 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 63 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 49 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 47 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 33 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 26 |
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 | 33.6% | 218 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.0% | 214 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.9% | 168 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 21.7% | 141 |
| 5 | Other defects | 21.1% | 137 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.3% | 119 |
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 | 32 | 21.9% |
| 30-60k | 200 | 23.5% |
| 60-90k | 224 | 29.5% |
| 90-120k | 124 | 35.5% |
| 120-150k | 46 | 37.0% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 195 | 28.7% |
| 2022 | 161 | 32.3% |
| 2023 | 135 | 32.6% |
| 2024 | 87 | 24.1% |
| 2025 | 71 | 21.1% |
What to check before buying a 1998 416
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 15.9% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Emissions & environmental (10.6% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 1998 Rover 416s pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 649 1998 Rover 416 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Rover 416?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.9% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 1998 416 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 21.9% in the 0-30k band to 37.0% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 649 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.