2003 Rover 75 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2003 Rover 75 passed 70.8% of its 14,212 recorded MOT tests. That is 1.1 percentage points worse than large family cars of a similar age, which fail at 28.1%. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
Suspension dominates the failure mix at 18.2% of all tests — 5.0 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, component mounting prescribed areas and rigid brake pipes — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,270 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.7% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 34.5% once past 150k — 2.5× the risk.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 4.0pp more often than petrol ones (30.8% vs 26.8%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 37.9% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.8% in 2021 to 27.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.2% | 2,590 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.2% | 1,876 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.7% | 1,518 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.3% | 888 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.3% | 758 |
| 6 | Seat belts & restraints | 4.4% | 621 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamp aim | 1,270 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,246 |
| 3 | Rigid brake pipes | 815 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 761 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 628 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 606 |
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 | 37.9% | 5,392 |
| 2 | Brakes | 37.8% | 5,377 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.3% | 3,588 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.6% | 2,638 |
| 5 | Other defects | 11.7% | 1,660 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.7% | 1,526 |
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 | 183 | 13.7% |
| 30-60k | 1,804 | 22.0% |
| 60-90k | 3,615 | 26.5% |
| 90-120k | 3,498 | 30.3% |
| 120-150k | 2,527 | 32.3% |
| 150k+ | 2,551 | 34.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 8,615 | 30.8% |
| Petrol | 5,592 | 26.8% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,153 | 29.8% |
| 2022 | 3,358 | 28.7% |
| 2023 | 2,758 | 30.2% |
| 2024 | 2,189 | 29.0% |
| 2025 | 1,754 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 2003 75
On a 2003 75, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.2% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.2% 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 (13.2% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.7% 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 2003 Rover 75s pass their MOT?
70.8% of the 14,212 2003 Rover 75 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 29.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Rover 75?
Suspension, recorded in 18.2% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.2%).
Does the 2003 75 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.7% in the 0-30k band to 34.5% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 14,212 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.