Rover Maestro MOT pass rate & common failures
Across 37 model years and 1,321 tests, the Rover Maestro passes its MOT 79.0% of the time. All cars of a similar age fail 22.9% of the time, so this is 1.9pp better than the group it competes with. Its most common failure areas are lighting & signalling, brakes and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (8.6%) and brakes (8.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are component mounting prescribed areas, service brake performance and prescribed areas — component mounting prescribed areas alone was recorded 108 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 18.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 27.1% once past 150k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: suspension was flagged on 19.5% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 23.9% in 2021 to 17.3% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
By model year
Every Maestro model year with a usable sample. Years with their own detailed report are linked.
| Year | Tests | Pass rate | Fail rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 43 | 74.4% | 25.6% | Brakes |
| 1986 | 32 | 81.3% | 18.8% | Visibility |
| 1988 | 50 | 76.0% | 24.0% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1989 | 78 | 84.6% | 15.4% | Suspension |
| 1990 | 262 | 81.3% | 18.7% | Brakes |
| 1991 | 135 | 79.3% | 20.7% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1992 | 94 | 75.5% | 24.5% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1993 | 164 | 81.1% | 18.9% | Lighting & signalling |
| 1994 | 210 | 73.3% | 26.7% | Suspension |
| 1998 | 43 | 88.4% | 11.6% | Body, structure & corrosion |
| 1999 | 60 | 81.7% | 18.3% | Emissions & environmental |
| 2001 | 48 | 70.8% | 29.2% | Emissions & environmental |
Most common failures (all years)
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 8.6% | 113 |
| 2 | Brakes | 8.4% | 111 |
| 3 | Suspension | 7.8% | 103 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 6.9% | 91 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 6.8% | 90 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.1% | 67 |
| 7 | Seat belts & restraints | 2.9% | 38 |
| 8 | Steering | 2.3% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 108 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 78 |
| 3 | Prescribed areas | 54 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 49 |
| 5 | Catalyst emissions | 48 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 47 |
| 7 | Wipers | 43 |
| 8 | Washers | 38 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 19.5% | 258 |
| 2 | Emissions & environmental | 18.9% | 250 |
| 3 | Brakes | 17.6% | 233 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.4% | 216 |
| 5 | Tyres | 10.4% | 137 |
| 6 | Other defects | 9.1% | 120 |
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 | 116 | 18.1% |
| 30-60k | 346 | 19.4% |
| 60-90k | 363 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 227 | 23.4% |
| 120-150k | 129 | 18.6% |
| 150k+ | 140 | 27.1% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 980 | 19.7% |
| Diesel | 341 | 24.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 309 | 23.9% |
| 2022 | 289 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 270 | 21.9% |
| 2024 | 239 | 17.6% |
| 2025 | 214 | 17.3% |
What to check before buying a Rover Maestro
- Lighting & signalling (8.6% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (8.4% 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.
- Suspension (7.8% 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 Maestro?
79.0% of the 1,321 Rover Maestro MOT tests in this dataset passed, a 21.0% fail rate, across model years 1981–2017.
What does the Rover Maestro most often fail its MOT on?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 8.6% of tests, then brakes (8.4%).
How much does mileage affect Maestro MOT results?
Fail rates run at 18.1% for cars in the 0-30k band and 27.1% for 150k+, a 9.0-point difference.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,321 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.