2000 Rover 75 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 3,059 MOT tests, the 2000 Rover 75 recorded a 71.5% pass rate. That is effectively the same as large family cars of a similar age (27.9% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests against 12.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and srs malfunction indicator lamp — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 296 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 34.2% versus 12.9%.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 35.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.6% in 2021 to 27.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.0% | 581 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.4% | 378 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.6% | 294 |
| 4 | Seat belts & restraints | 6.1% | 187 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.7% | 174 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 155 |
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 | 296 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 206 |
| 3 | SRS malfunction indicator lamp | 133 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 128 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 128 |
| 6 | Headlamp | 128 |
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 | 35.4% | 1,082 |
| 2 | Suspension | 34.5% | 1,055 |
| 3 | Tyres | 24.6% | 752 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 535 |
| 5 | Other defects | 12.2% | 373 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 336 |
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 | 85 | 12.9% |
| 30-60k | 579 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 903 | 28.3% |
| 90-120k | 774 | 31.4% |
| 120-150k | 443 | 31.8% |
| 150k+ | 272 | 34.2% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 2,651 | 28.8% |
| Diesel | 408 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 894 | 29.6% |
| 2022 | 727 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 585 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 460 | 25.2% |
| 2025 | 393 | 27.7% |
What to check before buying a 2000 75
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 19.0% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (19.0% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (12.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.6% 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.
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 2000 Rover 75s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 3,059 2000 Rover 75 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2000 Rover 75?
Suspension, recorded in 19.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (12.4%).
Does the 2000 75 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 12.9% in the 0-30k band to 34.2% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 3,059 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.