2004 Rover 75 — MOT failures & pass rate
17,525 MOT tests on the 2004 Rover 75 are in this dataset, and 69.7% of them passed. Against large family cars of a similar age (28.0% fail rate), the 2004 75 comes out 2.3pp worse. Failures cluster in suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: suspension, recorded in 18.7% of tests against 13.5% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are headlamp aim, rigid brake pipes and component mounting prescribed areas — headlamp aim alone was recorded 1,388 times.
A 150k+ example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.9% versus 14.8%.
The petrol cars hold up better: 26.6% fail against 31.8% for diesel, a 5.2-point gap across 17,525 tests.
Brakes is the most common advisory, noted on 40.3% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 30.8% in 2021 to 29.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.7% | 3,282 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 2,359 |
| 3 | Brakes | 11.3% | 1,981 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.0% | 1,046 |
| 5 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.1% | 886 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.8% | 837 |
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 | 1,388 |
| 2 | Rigid brake pipes | 1,167 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 1,106 |
| 4 | Pins and bushes | 987 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 979 |
| 6 | Rbt (sp) | 795 |
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 | 40.3% | 7,059 |
| 2 | Suspension | 38.7% | 6,779 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.3% | 4,602 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 18.4% | 3,222 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.4% | 1,831 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.6% | 1,690 |
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 | 271 | 14.8% |
| 30-60k | 2,070 | 21.1% |
| 60-90k | 4,239 | 28.1% |
| 90-120k | 4,691 | 31.7% |
| 120-150k | 3,356 | 33.2% |
| 150k+ | 2,873 | 35.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 12,517 | 31.8% |
| Petrol | 5,008 | 26.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,065 | 30.8% |
| 2022 | 4,140 | 30.5% |
| 2023 | 3,411 | 30.1% |
| 2024 | 2,724 | 30.1% |
| 2025 | 2,185 | 29.0% |
What to check before buying a 2004 75
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: suspension accounted for 18.7% of tests. Start there.
- Suspension (18.7% 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 (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (11.3% 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 2004 Rover 75s pass their MOT?
69.7% of the 17,525 2004 Rover 75 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 30.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Rover 75?
Suspension, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.5%).
Does the 2004 75 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.8% in the 0-30k band to 35.9% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 17,525 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.