2005 Rover Streetwise — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 576 MOT tests, the 2005 Rover Streetwise recorded a 76.4% pass rate. Against all cars of a similar age (27.6% fail rate), the 2005 Streetwise comes out 4.0pp better. Failures cluster in lighting & signalling, body, structure & corrosion and suspension.
What the MOT record shows
No single area dominates — lighting & signalling (12.3%) and body, structure & corrosion (9.9%) are close, so failures are spread across several systems rather than one weak point.
At component level the recurring items are joints, headlamp aim and component mounting prescribed areas — joints alone was recorded 46 times.
A 120-150k example is materially riskier than a 0-30k one: 35.5% versus 19.4%.
Suspension is the most common advisory, noted on 26.0% of tests — work that passed today but is likely due soon.
The trend is improving — the fail rate fell from 27.6% in 2021 to 17.7% in 2025, as the worst-kept examples leave the fleet.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lighting & signalling | 12.3% | 71 |
| 2 | Body, structure & corrosion | 9.9% | 57 |
| 3 | Suspension | 6.3% | 36 |
| 4 | Tyres | 5.9% | 34 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 5.7% | 33 |
| 6 | Brakes | 5.2% | 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 | 46 |
| 2 | Headlamp aim | 38 |
| 3 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 30 |
| 4 | Track rod end | 21 |
| 5 | Tread depth | 18 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 16 |
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 | 26.0% | 150 |
| 2 | Tyres | 24.0% | 138 |
| 3 | Body, structure & corrosion | 19.8% | 114 |
| 4 | Steering | 16.7% | 96 |
| 5 | Brakes | 14.9% | 86 |
| 6 | Emissions & environmental | 7.8% | 45 |
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 | 31 | 19.4% |
| 30-60k | 188 | 22.9% |
| 60-90k | 248 | 23.0% |
| 90-120k | 72 | 25.0% |
| 120-150k | 31 | 35.5% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 451 | 22.8% |
| Diesel | 125 | 26.4% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 185 | 27.6% |
| 2022 | 134 | 21.6% |
| 2023 | 104 | 22.1% |
| 2024 | 91 | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 62 | 17.7% |
What to check before buying a 2005 Streetwise
The failure pattern for this year is specific enough to inspect against: lighting & signalling accounted for 12.3% of tests. Start there.
- Lighting & signalling (12.3% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Body, structure & corrosion (9.9% 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+.
- Suspension (6.3% of tests): Worn drop links, bushes, springs or shocks — listen for knocks over bumps and check for uneven tyre wear. Typical repair: £150–£450 per corner.
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 2005 Rover Streetwises pass their MOT?
76.4% of the 576 2005 Rover Streetwise MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 23.6% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2005 Rover Streetwise?
Lighting & signalling, recorded in 12.3% of tests, followed by body, structure & corrosion (9.9%).
Does the 2005 Streetwise get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 19.4% in the 0-30k band to 35.5% in the 120-150k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 576 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.