1991 Rover Metro — MOT failures & pass rate
The 1991 Rover Metro passed 75.6% of its 590 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (22.3% fail rate), the 1991 Metro comes out 2.2pp worse. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, body, structure & corrosion and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (10.5%) and body, structure & corrosion (10.2%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are non catalyst emissions, component mounting prescribed areas and service brake performance — non catalyst emissions alone was recorded 52 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 20.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 26.1% once past 60-90k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: body, structure & corrosion was flagged on 18.8% of tests without failing them.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 10.5% | 62 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 10.2% | 60 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 9.2% | 54 |
| 4 | Brakes | 9.0% | 53 |
| 5 | Suspension | 8.3% | 49 |
| 6 | Visibility | 6.3% | 37 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non catalyst emissions | 52 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 48 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 40 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 28 |
| 5 | Washers | 23 |
| 6 | Wipers | 22 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.8% | 111 |
| 2 | Suspension | 18.8% | 111 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.1% | 101 |
| 4 | Emissions & environmental | 12.7% | 75 |
| 5 | Brakes | 11.5% | 68 |
| 6 | Other defects | 8.0% | 47 |
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 | 154 | 20.1% |
| 30-60k | 294 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 115 | 26.1% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 115 | 24.3% |
| 2022 | 120 | 22.5% |
| 2023 | 120 | 20.0% |
| 2024 | 117 | 29.9% |
| 2025 | 118 | 25.4% |
What to check before buying a 1991 Metro
On a 1991 Metro, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 10.5% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (10.5% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Body, structure & corrosion (10.2% 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 (9.2% 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 1991 Rover Metros pass their MOT?
75.6% of the 590 1991 Rover Metro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 24.4% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1991 Rover Metro?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 10.5% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (10.2%).
Does the 1991 Metro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.1% in the 0-30k band to 26.1% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 590 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.