1997 Rover 618 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 302 MOT tests, the 1997 Rover 618 recorded a 75.5% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail at 25.2%, so the 1997 618 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (12.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (9.6%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), joints and stop lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 24 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1997 618 fails 20.8% of the time in the 30-60k band and 24.1% at 150k+, a spread of only 3.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.2% in 2021 to 17.9% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 12.3% | 37 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.6% | 29 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 28 |
| 4 | Suspension | 6.6% | 20 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 15 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.3% | 13 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 24 |
| 2 | Joints | 20 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 17 |
| 4 | Wipers | 16 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 11 |
| 6 | Catalyst emissions | 11 |
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 | 34.8% | 105 |
| 2 | Brakes | 31.5% | 95 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.8% | 72 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 22.5% | 68 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 57 |
| 6 | Other defects | 17.2% | 52 |
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 | 53 | 20.8% |
| 60-90k | 61 | 22.9% |
| 90-120k | 81 | 23.5% |
| 120-150k | 53 | 32.1% |
| 150k+ | 54 | 24.1% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 84 | 26.2% |
| 2022 | 70 | 24.3% |
| 2023 | 54 | 20.4% |
| 2024 | 55 | 30.9% |
| 2025 | 39 | 17.9% |
What to check before buying a 1997 618
On a 1997 618, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 12.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (12.3% 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 (9.6% 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 (9.3% 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 1997 Rover 618s pass their MOT?
75.5% of the 302 1997 Rover 618 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1997 Rover 618?
Brakes, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.6%).
Does the 1997 618 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.8% in the 30-60k band to 24.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 302 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.