2001 Rover 75 — MOT failures & pass rate
5,840 MOT tests on the 2001 Rover 75 are in this dataset, and 71.2% of them passed. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 28.1%, so the 2001 75 sits squarely on the average. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.3% of all tests — 6.5 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, headlamp aim and rigid brake pipes — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 493 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 17.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 32.7% once past 150k.
Fuel type barely separates them — petrol fails 28.5% of the time against 29.2% for diesel.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 36.6% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 27.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.3% | 1,070 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.8% | 688 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.9% | 634 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.9% | 342 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.6% | 269 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.2% | 247 |
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 | 493 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 440 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 292 |
| 4 | Coil spring | 246 |
| 5 | Pins and bushes | 244 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 231 |
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 | 36.6% | 2,138 |
| 2 | Brakes | 33.5% | 1,954 |
| 3 | Tyres | 23.2% | 1,352 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.5% | 1,022 |
| 5 | Other defects | 13.1% | 767 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 591 |
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 | 86 | 17.4% |
| 30-60k | 896 | 19.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,643 | 27.8% |
| 90-120k | 1,382 | 31.6% |
| 120-150k | 868 | 32.5% |
| 150k+ | 959 | 32.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,623 | 28.5% |
| Diesel | 2,217 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,705 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 1,364 | 29.0% |
| 2023 | 1,124 | 28.8% |
| 2024 | 899 | 29.1% |
| 2025 | 748 | 27.3% |
What to check before buying a 2001 75
On a 2001 75, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.3% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.3% 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 (11.8% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.9% 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 2001 Rover 75s pass their MOT?
71.2% of the 5,840 2001 Rover 75 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2001 Rover 75?
Suspension, recorded in 18.3% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.8%).
Does the 2001 75 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 17.4% in the 0-30k band to 32.7% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 5,840 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.