2005 Rover 75 — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2005 Rover 75 passed 71.4% of its 8,257 recorded MOT tests. Large family cars of a similar age fail at 27.8%, so the 2005 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 18.1% 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, pins and bushes and headlamp — headlamp aim alone was recorded 587 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 13.8% in the 0-30k band and 34.1% in the 150k+ band, a 20.3-point spread — more than double.
Split by fuel, diesel examples fail 3.8pp more often than petrol ones (29.6% vs 25.7%) — worth weighing if you have a choice.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 39.2% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 18.1% | 1,494 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.1% | 1,082 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.2% | 844 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 5.6% | 463 |
| 5 | Visibility | 4.8% | 397 |
| 6 | Tyres | 4.3% | 357 |
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 | 587 |
| 2 | Pins and bushes | 436 |
| 3 | Headlamp | 423 |
| 4 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 388 |
| 5 | Rbt (sp) | 388 |
| 6 | Ball joint | 385 |
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 | 39.2% | 3,237 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.7% | 2,863 |
| 3 | Tyres | 25.9% | 2,142 |
| 4 | Lighting & signalling | 17.7% | 1,465 |
| 5 | Steering | 10.0% | 829 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.0% | 827 |
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 | 203 | 13.8% |
| 30-60k | 1,160 | 21.8% |
| 60-90k | 2,079 | 26.4% |
| 90-120k | 2,134 | 29.6% |
| 120-150k | 1,484 | 33.1% |
| 150k+ | 1,186 | 34.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 6,085 | 29.6% |
| Petrol | 2,169 | 25.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,279 | 29.3% |
| 2022 | 1,879 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 1,652 | 29.1% |
| 2024 | 1,336 | 27.8% |
| 2025 | 1,111 | 28.6% |
What to check before buying a 2005 75
On a 2005 75, suspension is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.1% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Suspension (18.1% 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 (13.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.2% 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 2005 Rover 75s pass their MOT?
71.4% of the 8,257 2005 Rover 75 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Rover 75?
Suspension, recorded in 18.1% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.1%).
Does the 2005 75 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.8% in the 0-30k band to 34.1% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 8,257 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.