1999 Rover 75 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1999 Rover 75 passed 72.9% of its 1,117 recorded MOT tests. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 16.8% of tests against 10.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 91 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 28.7% versus 18.7%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 30.7% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.9% in 2021 to 20.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 16.8% | 188 |
| 2 | Brakes | 10.0% | 112 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.3% | 104 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.2% | 69 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.0% | 56 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.4% | 49 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 91 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 69 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 53 |
| 4 | Wipers | 38 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 37 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 36 |
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 | 30.7% | 343 |
| 2 | Suspension | 30.1% | 336 |
| 3 | Tyres | 19.4% | 217 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 19.2% | 214 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.1% | 124 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.2% | 103 |
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 | 209 | 18.7% |
| 60-90k | 350 | 27.7% |
| 90-120k | 302 | 31.8% |
| 120-150k | 151 | 29.8% |
| 150k+ | 80 | 28.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 934 | 26.2% |
| Diesel | 183 | 31.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 311 | 29.9% |
| 2022 | 255 | 29.4% |
| 2023 | 211 | 26.1% |
| 2024 | 186 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 154 | 20.1% |
What to check before buying a 1999 75
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 16.8% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (16.8% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
- Brakes (10.0% 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.
- 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 1999 Rover 75s pass their MOT?
72.9% of the 1,117 1999 Rover 75 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 27.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Rover 75?
Suspension, recorded in 16.8% of tests, followed by brakes (10.0%).
Does the 1999 75 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.7% in the 30-60k band to 28.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,117 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.