1999 Rover 825 — MOT failures & pass rate
326 MOT tests on the 1999 Rover 825 are in this dataset, and 71.5% of them passed. That is 2.4 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 26.2%. Failures cluster in brakes, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
Brakes dominates the failure mix at 18.7% of all tests — 5.2 points clear of lighting & signalling, so it is the first thing to check.
At component level the recurring items are rbt (sp), headlamp aim and service brake performance — rbt (sp) alone was recorded 32 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 30-60k one: 37.7% versus 26.9%.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 35.3% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 32.6% in 2021 to 29.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 18.7% | 61 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 13.5% | 44 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.1% | 33 |
| 4 | Suspension | 8.9% | 29 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.2% | 17 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.6% | 15 |
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) | 32 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 32 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 32 |
| 4 | Catalyst emissions | 29 |
| 5 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 19 |
| 6 | Wipers | 13 |
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 | 35.3% | 115 |
| 2 | Suspension | 33.7% | 110 |
| 3 | Tyres | 26.4% | 86 |
| 4 | Other defects | 17.2% | 56 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 14.7% | 48 |
| 6 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.7% | 38 |
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 | 93 | 26.9% |
| 60-90k | 79 | 24.1% |
| 90-120k | 74 | 29.7% |
| 120-150k | 61 | 37.7% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 86 | 32.6% |
| 2022 | 76 | 34.2% |
| 2023 | 60 | 21.7% |
| 2024 | 53 | 20.8% |
| 2025 | 51 | 29.4% |
What to check before buying a 1999 825
On a 1999 825, brakes is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 18.7% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Brakes (18.7% 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 (13.5% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.1% 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
How many 1999 Rover 825s pass their MOT?
71.5% of the 326 1999 Rover 825 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 28.5% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1999 Rover 825?
Brakes, recorded in 18.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (13.5%).
Does the 1999 825 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 26.9% in the 30-60k band to 37.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 326 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.