2004 Rover Streetwise — MOT failures & pass rate
The 2004 Rover Streetwise passed 73.7% of its 2,124 recorded MOT tests. Against all cars of a similar age (27.7% fail rate), the 2004 Streetwise comes out 1.4pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and emissions & environmental.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (15.0%) and body, structure & corrosion (12.4%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, component mounting prescribed areas and wipers — joints alone was recorded 185 times.
Mileage is the strongest signal on the record: 13.4% of 0-30k cars fail, rising to 40.4% once past 150k — 3.0× the risk.
Advisories point at the next bill rather than this one: tyres was flagged on 28.7% of tests without failing them.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 26.6% in 2021 to 24.5% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 15.0% | 318 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 12.4% | 263 |
| 3 | Emissions & environmental | 7.4% | 157 |
| 4 | Brakes | 7.1% | 150 |
| 5 | Visibility | 6.5% | 139 |
| 6 | Suspension | 6.4% | 135 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joints | 185 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 123 |
| 3 | Wipers | 108 |
| 4 | Stop lamp | 102 |
| 5 | Headlamp aim | 99 |
| 6 | Track rod end | 86 |
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 | 28.7% | 610 |
| 2 | Suspension | 24.0% | 509 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 18.9% | 402 |
| 4 | Brakes | 18.3% | 389 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 11.5% | 244 |
| 6 | Steering | 11.2% | 237 |
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 | 97 | 13.4% |
| 30-60k | 521 | 22.1% |
| 60-90k | 744 | 26.8% |
| 90-120k | 531 | 29.2% |
| 120-150k | 184 | 31.5% |
| 150k+ | 47 | 40.4% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,671 | 26.3% |
| Diesel | 453 | 26.5% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 646 | 26.6% |
| 2022 | 516 | 26.6% |
| 2023 | 412 | 27.7% |
| 2024 | 309 | 24.9% |
| 2025 | 241 | 24.5% |
What to check before buying a 2004 Streetwise
On a 2004 Streetwise, lighting & signalling is what the MOT record says goes wrong most — it appeared in 15.0% of tests. Check these areas before you commit.
- Lighting & signalling (15.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (12.4% 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+.
- Emissions & environmental (7.4% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
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 2004 Rover Streetwises pass their MOT?
73.7% of the 2,124 2004 Rover Streetwise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 26.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2004 Rover Streetwise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 15.0% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (12.4%).
Does the 2004 Streetwise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 13.4% in the 0-30k band to 40.4% in the 150k+ band.
Methodology & source. Based on 2,124 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.