1996 Rover 620 — MOT failures & pass rate
452 MOT tests on the 1996 Rover 620 are in this dataset, and 71.7% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 24.7% of the time, so this is 3.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 14.4% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and catalyst emissions — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 33 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 39.5% versus 18.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.3% of tests failed in 2021 against 30.3% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.4% | 65 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 50 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 47 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.6% | 39 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.8% | 26 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 23 |
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) | 33 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 24 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 22 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 22 |
| 5 | Joints | 21 |
| 6 | Ball joint dust cover | 20 |
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 | 36.3% | 164 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 160 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.8% | 112 |
| 4 | Other defects | 24.8% | 112 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 24.3% | 110 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.1% | 82 |
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 | 37 | 18.9% |
| 60-90k | 155 | 22.6% |
| 90-120k | 121 | 33.9% |
| 120-150k | 101 | 29.7% |
| 150k+ | 38 | 39.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 114 | 26.3% |
| 2022 | 106 | 24.5% |
| 2023 | 88 | 29.5% |
| 2024 | 78 | 33.3% |
| 2025 | 66 | 30.3% |
What to check before buying a 1996 620
On a 1996 620, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 14.4% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (14.4% 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 (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.4% 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
How many 1996 Rover 620s pass their MOT?
71.7% of the 452 1996 Rover 620 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Rover 620?
Brakes, recorded in 14.4% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.1%).
Does the 1996 620 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.9% in the 30-60k band to 39.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 452 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.