Rover 620 MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 12 model years and 3,123 tests, the Rover 620 passes its MOT 72.2% of the time. Against all cars of a similar age (25.3% fail rate), the 620 comes out 2.5pp worse. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 15.6% of tests against 11.7% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), joints and stop lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 283 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 33.2% versus 23.8%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 32.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
How it compares
By model year
Every 620 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 99 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 170 | 75.3% | 24.7% | Brakes |
| 1995 | 248 | 73.4% | 26.6% | Brakes |
| 1996 | 452 | 71.7% | 28.3% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 669 | 69.8% | 30.2% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 710 | 71.0% | 29.0% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 752 | 73.9% | 26.1% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.6% | 486 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.7% | 364 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.1% | 348 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.2% | 286 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 178 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.3% | 167 |
| 7 | Tyres | 4.0% | 126 |
| 8 | Steering | 3.8% | 119 |
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) | 283 |
| 2 | Joints | 222 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 165 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 156 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 150 |
| 6 | Service brake performance | 147 |
| 7 | Ball joint dust cover | 129 |
| 8 | Wipers | 106 |
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 | 32.8% | 1,023 |
| 2 | Suspension | 32.2% | 1,006 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.2% | 757 |
| 4 | Tyres | 22.3% | 697 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.1% | 629 |
| 6 | Other defects | 18.3% | 570 |
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 | 63 | 23.8% |
| 30-60k | 361 | 21.9% |
| 60-90k | 894 | 24.9% |
| 90-120k | 851 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 532 | 29.5% |
| 150k+ | 422 | 33.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,814 | 27.7% |
| Diesel | 309 | 28.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 846 | 27.0% |
| 2022 | 732 | 27.6% |
| 2023 | 625 | 29.3% |
| 2024 | 492 | 27.6% |
| 2025 | 428 | 27.6% |
What to check before buying a Rover 620
- Brakes (15.6% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.1% 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+.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 620?
72.2% of the 3,123 Rover 620 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 27.8% fail rate, across model years 1993–2004.
What does the Rover 620 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 15.6% of tests, then lighting & signalling (11.7%).
How much does mileage affect 620 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 23.8% for cars in the 0-30k band and 33.2% for 150k+, a 9.4-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,123 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.