2003 Rover 45 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Rover 45 passed 71.5% of its 3,785 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as small family cars of a similar age (28.1% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (12.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.2%) 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, joints and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 425 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 30.0% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.3% of the time against 29.2% for diesel.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 34.2% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.5% in 2021 to 26.6% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 12.3% | 466 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.2% | 462 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 446 |
| 4 | Brakes | 10.4% | 392 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.4% | 204 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.3% | 201 |
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 | 425 |
| 2 | Joints | 275 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 191 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 186 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 170 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 151 |
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 | 34.2% | 1,294 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.2% | 1,258 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.8% | 977 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 23.1% | 873 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.6% | 514 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 12.2% | 463 |
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 | 161 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 1,087 | 27.4% |
| 60-90k | 1,316 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 821 | 29.3% |
| 120-150k | 268 | 31.3% |
| 150k+ | 130 | 30.0% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,206 | 28.3% |
| Diesel | 579 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,264 | 30.5% |
| 2022 | 936 | 28.1% |
| 2023 | 687 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 522 | 27.4% |
| 2025 | 376 | 26.6% |
What to check before buying a 2003 45
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (12.3% 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 (12.2% 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+.
- Lighting & signalling (11.8% 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 2003 Rover 45s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 3,785 2003 Rover 45 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Rover 45?
Suspension, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.2%).
Does the 2003 45 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 30.0% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,785 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.