1999 Rover 620 — MOT failures & pass rate
752 MOT tests on the 1999 Rover 620 are in this dataset, and 73.9% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (26.2% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 16.1% of tests against 12.8% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), joints and stop lamp — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 76 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 27.4% versus 20.0%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 33.5% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 25.9% in 2021 to 23.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 16.1% | 121 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.8% | 96 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.8% | 81 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.4% | 56 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 40 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 4.9% | 37 |
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) | 76 |
| 2 | Joints | 57 |
| 3 | Stop lamp | 46 |
| 4 | Service brake performance | 35 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 35 |
| 6 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 29 |
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 | 33.5% | 252 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 213 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 24.1% | 181 |
| 4 | Tyres | 21.0% | 158 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 142 |
| 6 | Other defects | 16.5% | 124 |
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 | 125 | 20.0% |
| 60-90k | 240 | 27.9% |
| 90-120k | 187 | 27.3% |
| 120-150k | 99 | 26.3% |
| 150k+ | 73 | 27.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 635 | 25.7% |
| Diesel | 117 | 28.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 205 | 25.9% |
| 2022 | 168 | 25.6% |
| 2023 | 159 | 28.9% |
| 2024 | 120 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 100 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a 1999 620
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 16.1% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (16.1% 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 (12.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.8% 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+.
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 1999 Rover 620s pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 752 1999 Rover 620 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Rover 620?
Brakes, recorded in 16.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.8%).
Does the 1999 620 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.0% in the 30-60k band to 27.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 752 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.