Rover 100
From 654 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement and emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits. The top issue, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, caused 38 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 38 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 33 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 24 |
| brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle. | 24 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 22 |
| the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired | 17 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 16 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 16 |
| body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point | 14 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 14 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 32.6% of 100 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 17.4% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. Breakdown cover may be worth considering for this model. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £169.
Rover 100 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 128 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 128. At this rate, roughly 32.2 years until none remain. Now at 3.3% of its peak (124,729 in 1999 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,408 | 2,712 | +0 | -2 | -2 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,420 | 2,702 | +0 | -6 | -6 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,420 | 2,708 | +0 | -48 | -48 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,449 | 2,727 | +0 | -72 | -72 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,476 | 2,772 | +0 | -61 | -61 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,490 | 2,819 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,476 | 2,837 | +0 | -0 | +1 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,469 | 2,843 | +0 | -4 | -4 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Petrol | 543 | 51% |
| 110 | Diesel | 310 | 29% |
| 105 | Petrol | 109 | 10% |
| 100 Ascot | Petrol | 51 | 5% |
| 100 Knightsbridge | Petrol | 51 | 5% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 70.4% | the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired |
| 1996 | 76.6% | emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits, service brake efficiency below minimum requirement |
Typical mileage
Half of all 100s tested had between 24,017 and 53,998 miles on the clock.
At 42,885 median miles, the 100 has 0.055 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Rover models
| Rover Mini | 75.8% |
| Rover 75 | 67.7% |
| Rover 25 | 68.2% |
| Rover 45 | 65.3% |
| Rover 216 | 72% |
Common questions
What is the Rover 100 MOT pass rate?
The Rover 100 has a 76.3% MOT pass rate based on 654 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Rover 100?
The most common MOT failure on the Rover 100 is the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired, which caused 38 failures. Other common issues include service brake efficiency below minimum requirement.
How many Rover 100s are on UK roads?
There are 1,408 Rover 100s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,712 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Rover 100 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Rover 100 is 42,885 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 24,017 and 53,998 miles.
Buying a used 100?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 76.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £169 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 32.6% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.