1992 Rover Metro — MOT failures & pass rate
558 MOT tests on the 1992 Rover Metro are in this dataset, and 78.3% of them passed. That is 1.3 percentage points better than all cars of a similar age, which fail at 23.0%. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and body, structure & corrosion.
What the MOT record shows
One area stands out: emissions & environmental, recorded in 11.7% of tests against 8.4% for the next-worst category.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, non catalyst emissions and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 41 times.
Mileage matters less than usual here: the 1992 Metro fails 18.8% of the time in the 0-30k band and 21.4% at 60-90k, a spread of only 2.7 points.
Body, structure & corrosion is the most common advisory, noted on 17.4% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 22.4% in 2021 to 20.4% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 11.7% | 65 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 8.4% | 47 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.1% | 45 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.3% | 41 |
| 5 | Brakes | 6.1% | 34 |
| 6 | Visibility | 5.0% | 28 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 41 |
| 2 | Non catalyst emissions | 36 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 36 |
| 4 | Integral vehicle structure condition | 30 |
| 5 | Service brake performance | 28 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 20 |
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 | 17.4% | 97 |
| 2 | Suspension | 15.4% | 86 |
| 3 | Tyres | 12.0% | 67 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.5% | 64 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.2% | 57 |
| 6 | Other defects | 5.6% | 31 |
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 | 160 | 18.8% |
| 30-60k | 252 | 24.2% |
| 60-90k | 112 | 21.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 143 | 22.4% |
| 2022 | 123 | 23.6% |
| 2023 | 103 | 16.5% |
| 2024 | 96 | 25.0% |
| 2025 | 93 | 20.4% |
What to check before buying a 1992 Metro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 11.7% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (11.7% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (8.4% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (8.1% 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 1992 Rover Metros pass their MOT?
78.3% of the 558 1992 Rover Metro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 21.7% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1992 Rover Metro?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 11.7% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (8.4%).
Does the 1992 Metro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 18.8% in the 0-30k band to 21.4% in the 60-90k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 558 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.