Rover 820 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Rover 820 appears in 1,378 MOT tests spanning model years 1987–2000, and 74.1% of them passed. That is 1.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 24.8%. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — brakes (13.5%) and lighting & signalling (11.0%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 160 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 11.9% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 35.8% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 31.9% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.5% in 2021 to 25.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 820 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 45 | 77.8% | 22.2% | Brakes |
| 1991 | 53 | 83.0% | 17.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 68 | 69.1% | 30.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1993 | 79 | 69.6% | 30.4% | Brakes |
| 1994 | 73 | 78.1% | 21.9% | Emissions & environmental |
| 1995 | 65 | 63.1% | 36.9% | Suspension |
| 1996 | 158 | 67.7% | 32.3% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 242 | 70.7% | 29.3% | Brakes |
| 1998 | 191 | 78.5% | 21.5% | Brakes |
| 1999 | 328 | 76.8% | 23.2% | Brakes |
| 2000 | 33 | 72.7% | 27.3% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 13.5% | 186 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 151 |
| 3 | Suspension | 9.9% | 136 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.3% | 128 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.7% | 120 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.1% | 56 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 3.2% | 44 |
| 8 | Tyres | 2.6% | 36 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 160 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 119 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 106 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 94 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 91 |
| 6 | Joints | 54 |
| 7 | Exhaust system | 52 |
| 8 | Wipers | 44 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 31.9% | 439 |
| 2 | Brakes | 29.9% | 412 |
| 3 | Suspension | 29.5% | 406 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.8% | 232 |
| 5 | Tyres | 16.1% | 222 |
| 6 | Other defects | 15.8% | 218 |
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 | 42 | 11.9% |
| 30-60k | 276 | 21.7% |
| 60-90k | 383 | 26.1% |
| 90-120k | 330 | 24.2% |
| 120-150k | 224 | 30.4% |
| 150k+ | 123 | 35.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 331 | 27.5% |
| 2022 | 307 | 24.8% |
| 2023 | 276 | 27.2% |
| 2024 | 236 | 24.6% |
| 2025 | 228 | 25.0% |
What to check before buying a Rover 820
- Brakes (13.5% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Suspension (9.9% 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.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 820?
74.1% of the 1,378 Rover 820 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.9% fail rate, across model years 1987–2000.
What does the Rover 820 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 13.5% of tests, then lighting & signalling (11.0%).
How much does mileage affect 820 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 11.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 35.8% for 150k+, a 23.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,378 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.