Rover 825 MOT pass rate & common failures
The Rover 825 appears in 647 MOT tests spanning model years 1986–2010, and 74.5% of them passed. That is effectively the same as all cars of a similar age (25.6% fail rate), so the MOT record here is unremarkable in either direction. Its most common failure areas are brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 15.9% of all tests — 3.3 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), service brake performance and catalyst emissions — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 58 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 825 fails 25.0% of the time in the 30-60k band and 22.9% at 150k+, a spread of only 2.1 points.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 28.4% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.9% in 2021 to 23.0% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every 825 model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 46 | 78.3% | 21.7% | Brakes |
| 1997 | 112 | 78.6% | 21.4% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1998 | 130 | 76.9% | 23.1% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1999 | 326 | 71.5% | 28.5% | Brakes |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 15.9% | 103 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 12.7% | 82 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.7% | 56 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 47 |
| 5 | Visibility | 5.1% | 33 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.0% | 32 |
| 7 | Tyres | 2.8% | 18 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 1.6% | 10 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rbt (sp) | 58 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 56 |
| 3 | Catalyst emissions | 48 |
| 4 | Headlamp aim | 44 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 38 |
| 6 | Wipers | 25 |
| 7 | Joints | 19 |
| 8 | Position lamp | 18 |
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 | 28.4% | 184 |
| 2 | Suspension | 28.3% | 183 |
| 3 | Tyres | 20.7% | 134 |
| 4 | Other defects | 16.5% | 107 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.8% | 96 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 13.0% | 84 |
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 | 140 | 25.0% |
| 60-90k | 187 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 177 | 26.0% |
| 120-150k | 87 | 36.8% |
| 150k+ | 35 | 22.9% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 614 | 25.4% |
| Diesel | 33 | 27.3% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 156 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 151 | 29.8% |
| 2023 | 130 | 24.6% |
| 2024 | 110 | 20.9% |
| 2025 | 100 | 23.0% |
What to check before buying a Rover 825
- Brakes (15.9% 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 (12.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.7% 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+.
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 825?
74.5% of the 647 Rover 825 MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 25.5% fail rate, across model years 1986–2010.
What does the Rover 825 most often fail its MOT on?
Brakes, recorded in 15.9% of tests, then lighting & signalling (12.7%).
How much does mileage affect 825 MOT results?
Fail rates run at 25.0% for cars in the 30-60k band and 22.9% for 150k+, a 2.1-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 647 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.