2003 Rover Streetwise — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 601 MOT tests analysed for the 2003 Rover Streetwise, the most common recorded failure areas were lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.4% was in line with the average for cars of a similar age (74.3%).
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 14.1% | 85 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 11.8% | 71 |
| 3 | Brakes | 7.1% | 43 |
| 4 | Suspension | 7.0% | 42 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.8% | 41 |
| 6 | Tyres | 5.0% | 30 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 50 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 33 |
| 3 | Position lamp | 29 |
| 4 | Wipers | 28 |
| 5 | Stop lamp | 25 |
| 6 | Headlamp aim | 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 | Tyres | 29.8% | 179 |
| 2 | Brakes | 22.3% | 134 |
| 3 | Suspension | 21.1% | 127 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 20.5% | 123 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 10.8% | 65 |
| 6 | Other defects | 10.7% | 64 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 30-60k | 145 | 23.4% |
| 60-90k | 248 | 27.4% |
| 90-120k | 123 | 26.8% |
| 120-150k | 47 | 27.7% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 475 | 24.8% |
| Diesel | 119 | 27.7% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 192 | 28.1% |
| 2022 | 142 | 23.9% |
| 2023 | 110 | 28.2% |
| 2024 | 90 | 22.2% |
| 2025 | 67 | 22.4% |
What to check before buying a 2003 Streetwise
Before buying a 2003 Rover Streetwise, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Lighting & signalling accounted for 14.1% of tests for this year.
- Lighting & signalling (14.1% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (11.8% 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+.
- Brakes (7.1% 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 2003 Rover Streetwises pass their MOT?
74.4% of the 601 2003 Rover Streetwise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2003 Rover Streetwise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 14.1% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (11.8%).
Does the 2003 Streetwise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 23.4% in the 30-60k band to 27.7% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 601 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.