Rover Cityrover MOT pass rate & common failures
The Rover Cityrover appears in 1,013 MOT tests spanning model years 1996–2011, and 66.2% of them passed. That is 6.2 percentage points worse than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 27.6%. Its most common failure areas are suspension, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — suspension (17.4%) and lighting & signalling (15.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are rigid brake pipes, service brake performance and wipers — rigid brake pipes alone was recorded 80 times.
Condition tracks the odometer closely. Failures run at 27.9% in the 0-30k band and 39.9% in the 60-90k band, a 11.9-point spread.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: brakes was flagged on 42.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 36.5% in 2021 to 31.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Cityrover model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 49 | 59.2% | 40.8% | Brakes |
| 2004 | 571 | 66.4% | 33.6% | Suspension |
| 2005 | 189 | 67.2% | 32.8% | Lighting & signalling |
| 2006 | 201 | 66.7% | 33.3% | Suspension |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 17.4% | 176 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 15.9% | 161 |
| 3 | Brakes | 15.0% | 152 |
| 4 | Visibility | 9.4% | 95 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.3% | 84 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 5.9% | 60 |
| 7 | Tyres | 5.9% | 60 |
| 8 | Seat belts & restraints | 5.0% | 51 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rigid brake pipes | 80 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 70 |
| 3 | Wipers | 61 |
| 4 | Ball joint | 57 |
| 5 | Washers | 57 |
| 6 | Flexible brake hoses | 52 |
| 7 | Rear fog lamp | 52 |
| 8 | Service brake imbalance | 52 |
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 | 42.7% | 433 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 28.4% | 288 |
| 3 | Suspension | 26.4% | 267 |
| 4 | Tyres | 24.7% | 250 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 17.1% | 173 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.4% | 95 |
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 | 319 | 27.9% |
| 30-60k | 540 | 35.9% |
| 60-90k | 133 | 39.9% |
Failure rate by age
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 386 | 36.5% |
| 2022 | 268 | 31.0% |
| 2023 | 178 | 34.3% |
| 2024 | 108 | 31.5% |
| 2025 | 73 | 31.5% |
What to check before buying a Rover Cityrover
- Suspension (17.4% 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 (15.9% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (15.0% 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
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover Cityrover?
66.2% of the 1,013 Rover Cityrover MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 33.8% fail rate, across model years 1996–2011.
What does the Rover Cityrover most often fail its MOT on?
Suspension, recorded in 17.4% of tests, then lighting & signalling (15.9%).
How much does mileage affect Cityrover MOT results?
Fail rates run at 27.9% for cars in the 0-30k band and 39.9% for 60-90k, a 11.9-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,013 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.