1994 Rover Metro — MOT failures & pass rate
1,194 MOT tests on the 1994 Rover Metro are in this dataset, and 73.4% of them passed. Against all cars of a similar age (23.9% fail rate), the 1994 Metro comes out 2.7pp worse. Failures cluster in emissions & environmental, brakes and lighting & signalling.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — emissions & environmental (13.0%) and brakes (11.9%) 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 160 times.
A 90-120k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 31.0% versus 20.2%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 19.8% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.9% in 2021 to 21.2% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 13.0% | 155 |
| 2 | Brakes | 11.9% | 142 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 11.6% | 138 |
| 4 | Suspension | 9.6% | 115 |
| 5 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.7% | 92 |
| 6 | Visibility | 4.4% | 52 |
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 | 160 |
| 2 | Service brake performance | 131 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 92 |
| 4 | Service brake imbalance | 62 |
| 5 | Headlamp | 55 |
| 6 | Non catalyst emissions | 48 |
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 | 19.8% | 236 |
| 2 | Brakes | 18.8% | 225 |
| 3 | Tyres | 17.8% | 212 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 16.0% | 191 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 8.0% | 96 |
| 6 | Other defects | 7.4% | 89 |
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 | 218 | 20.2% |
| 30-60k | 597 | 26.5% |
| 60-90k | 287 | 30.7% |
| 90-120k | 71 | 31.0% |
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,146 | 26.5% |
| Diesel | 48 | 29.2% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 298 | 26.9% |
| 2022 | 284 | 27.8% |
| 2023 | 248 | 29.0% |
| 2024 | 194 | 26.3% |
| 2025 | 170 | 21.2% |
What to check before buying a 1994 Metro
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: emissions & environmental accounted for 13.0% of tests. Start there.
- Emissions & environmental (13.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Brakes (11.9% 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.
- Lighting & signalling (11.6% 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 1994 Rover Metros pass their MOT?
73.4% of the 1,194 1994 Rover Metro MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1994 Rover Metro?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 13.0% of tests, followed by brakes (11.9%).
Does the 1994 Metro get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 20.2% in the 0-30k band to 31.0% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 1,194 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.