2001 Rover 45 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 2,827 MOT tests, the 2001 Rover 45 recorded a 70.6% pass rate. Small family cars of a similar age fail 27.9% of the time, so this is 1.5pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.7%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.7%) 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, service brake performance and joints — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 402 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.3% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.5% once past 150k.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.7% | 359 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.7% | 359 |
| 3 | Suspension | 11.6% | 327 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 315 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.7% | 162 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.2% | 120 |
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 | 402 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 205 |
| 3 | Joints | 181 |
| 4 | Rigid brake pipes | 130 |
| 5 | Wipers | 119 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 115 |
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 | 34.0% | 962 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.6% | 951 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.5% | 720 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.1% | 653 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 417 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.3% | 405 |
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 | 74 | 20.3% |
| 30-60k | 776 | 24.9% |
| 60-90k | 971 | 29.3% |
| 90-120k | 604 | 32.8% |
| 120-150k | 273 | 35.2% |
| 150k+ | 124 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,374 | 29.1% |
| Diesel | 453 | 31.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 926 | 30.9% |
| 2022 | 681 | 28.2% |
| 2023 | 515 | 26.8% |
| 2024 | 392 | 30.4% |
| 2025 | 313 | 30.7% |
What to check before buying a 2001 45
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 12.7% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (12.7% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.7% 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+.
- Suspension (11.6% 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 2001 Rover 45s pass their MOT?
70.6% of the 2,827 2001 Rover 45 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Rover 45?
Brakes, recorded in 12.7% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.7%).
Does the 2001 45 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.3% in the 0-30k band to 35.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,827 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.