1993 Rover Metro — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 736 MOT tests, the 1993 Rover Metro recorded a 73.9% pass rate. All cars of a similar age fail 23.5% of the time, so this is 2.6pp worse than the group it competes with. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (13.9%) and lighting & signalling (11.1%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are catalyst emissions, service brake performance and component mounting prescribed areas — catalyst emissions alone was recorded 127 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 24.1% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 17.4% once past 90-120k.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: body, structure & corrosion was flagged on 15.8% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 29.1% in 2021 to 22.1% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 13.9% | 102 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 11.1% | 82 |
| 3 | Brakes | 10.6% | 78 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.2% | 68 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.3% | 54 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.2% | 31 |
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 | 127 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 67 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 56 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 35 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 27 |
| 6 | Prescribed areas | 26 |
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 | 15.8% | 116 |
| 2 | Tyres | 15.8% | 116 |
| 3 | Suspension | 14.4% | 106 |
| 4 | Brakes | 11.3% | 83 |
| 5 | Other defects | 7.9% | 58 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 6.0% | 44 |
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 | 141 | 24.1% |
| 30-60k | 360 | 26.4% |
| 60-90k | 180 | 29.4% |
| 90-120k | 46 | 17.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 189 | 29.1% |
| 2022 | 171 | 27.5% |
| 2023 | 139 | 27.3% |
| 2024 | 124 | 21.8% |
| 2025 | 113 | 22.1% |
What to check before buying a 1993 Metro
On a 1993 Metro, emissions & environmental is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 13.9% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Emissions & environmental (13.9% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (11.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (10.6% 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
How many 1993 Rover Metros pass their MOT?
73.9% of the 736 1993 Rover Metro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.1% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1993 Rover Metro?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 13.9% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (11.1%).
Does the 1993 Metro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 24.1% in the 0-30k band to 17.4% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 736 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.