1999 Rover 820 — MOT failures & pass rate
328 MOT tests on the 1999 Rover 820 are in this dataset, and 76.8% of them passed. All cars of a similar age fail 26.1% of the time, so this is 2.9pp better than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in brakes, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: brakes, recorded in 14.6% of tests against 11.0% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 26 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 25.6% in the 30-60k band and 30.8% in the 120-150k band, a 5.2-point spread.
Emissions & environmental is the most common advisory, noted on 36.6% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.6% in 2021 to 20.8% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 14.6% | 48 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.0% | 36 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.0% | 36 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.4% | 31 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 4.6% | 15 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.4% | 11 |
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 | 26 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 24 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 23 |
| 4 | Rbt (sp) | 21 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 21 |
| 6 | Joints | 14 |
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 | 36.6% | 120 |
| 2 | Brakes | 35.4% | 116 |
| 3 | Suspension | 27.7% | 91 |
| 4 | Other defects | 20.1% | 66 |
| 5 | Tyres | 14.9% | 49 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 14.9% | 49 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 90 | 25.6% |
| 60-90k | 58 | 17.2% |
| 90-120k | 89 | 20.2% |
| 120-150k | 65 | 30.8% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 72 | 23.6% |
| 2022 | 75 | 22.7% |
| 2023 | 66 | 22.7% |
| 2024 | 62 | 25.8% |
| 2025 | 53 | 20.8% |
What to check before buying a 1999 820
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: brakes accounted for 14.6% of tests. Start there.
- Brakes (14.6% 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.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.0% of tests): The one to take seriously on older cars — corrosion to structural areas can be costly and is an MOT failure. Typical repair: £200–£1,500+.
- 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.
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 1999 Rover 820s pass their MOT?
76.8% of the 328 1999 Rover 820 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.2% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Rover 820?
Brakes, recorded in 14.6% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.0%).
Does the 1999 820 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 25.6% in the 30-60k band to 30.8% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 328 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.