Rover 220
From 606 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, caused 16 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 16 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 14 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 14 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 12 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 12 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 12 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 12 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 11 |
| 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. | 10 |
| 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 | 10 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 27.6% of 220 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 40.7% 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 £140.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 83.9% while Diesel versions pass at 73.6%, a 10 percentage point gap.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 84.2% | significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, body, cab or chassis excessively corroded at a mounting point |
| 1994 | 79.5% | a brake hose ferrule excessively corroded, braking effort inadequate at a wheel |
Typical mileage
Half of all 220s tested had between 77,114 and 124,061 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 96,159 median miles, the 220 has 0.019 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 220 MOT pass rate?
The Rover 220 has a 81.8% MOT pass rate based on 606 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Rover 220?
The most common MOT failure on the Rover 220 is significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake, which caused 16 failures. Other common issues include windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen.
What is the typical mileage of a Rover 220 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Rover 220 is 96,159 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 77,114 and 124,061 miles.
Buying a used 220?
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 81.8% pass rate and an average repair bill of £140 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 27.6% of failures on this model could actually strand you, so breakdown cover may be worth considering.
Some links are to services we may earn from. Disclosure.
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.