1998 Rover 620 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1998 Rover 620 passed 71.0% of its 710 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (25.7% fail rate), the 1998 620 comes out 3.3pp worse. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 18.0% of all tests — 6.2 points clear of body, structure & corrosion, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), joints and component mounting prescribed areas — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 83 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1998 620 fails 30.4% of the time in the 30-60k band and 31.7% at 150k+, a spread of only 1.3 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 34.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is worsening — 26.1% of tests failed in 2021 against 34.0% in 2025, the usual pattern as a fleet ages.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.0% | 128 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 84 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 10.4% | 74 |
| 4 | Suspension | 10.1% | 72 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.5% | 46 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 30 |
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) | 83 |
| 2 | Joints | 62 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 39 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 39 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 37 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 34 |
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 | 34.8% | 247 |
| 2 | Suspension | 31.6% | 224 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 23.4% | 166 |
| 4 | Tyres | 23.2% | 165 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 21.4% | 152 |
| 6 | Other defects | 14.8% | 105 |
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 | 79 | 30.4% |
| 60-90k | 191 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 199 | 32.2% |
| 120-150k | 134 | 30.6% |
| 150k+ | 101 | 31.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 622 | 28.6% |
| Diesel | 88 | 31.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 184 | 26.1% |
| 2022 | 173 | 31.2% |
| 2023 | 143 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 104 | 24.0% |
| 2025 | 106 | 34.0% |
What to check before buying a 1998 620
On a 1998 620, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (18.0% 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 (11.8% 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 (10.4% 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 1998 Rover 620s pass their MOT?
71.0% of the 710 1998 Rover 620 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.0% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1998 Rover 620?
Brakes, recorded in 18.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.8%).
Does the 1998 620 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 30.4% in the 30-60k band to 31.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 710 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.