Rover 25
From 4,942 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 and wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen. The top issue, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, caused 317 failures in 2024. Checking tread depth (1.6mm legal minimum, 3mm recommended) before your test can save an unnecessary fail. You can check prices at Black Circles if you need replacements. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 317 |
| 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 | 243 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 122 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 107 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 105 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 105 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 104 |
| a tyre seriously damaged | 100 |
| 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 | 98 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 92 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 54.7% of 25 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 13.8% 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 £157.
Rover 25 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 1,158 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 1,158. At this rate, roughly 7.2 years until none remain. Now at 5.5% of its peak (152,041 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 2,252 | 6,121 | +0 | -148 | -148 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,404 | 6,117 | +0 | -168 | -168 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,556 | 6,133 | +0 | -393 | -393 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,739 | 6,343 | +0 | -449 | -449 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,931 | 6,600 | +0 | -316 | -316 |
| 2024 Q2 | 3,104 | 6,743 | +0 | -231 | -231 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,321 | 6,757 | +0 | -241 | -241 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,559 | 6,760 | +0 | -229 | -229 |
15 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Il 16V | Gas | 519 | 31% |
| 25 Impression S3 | Petrol | 182 | 11% |
| 25 Impression 3 | Petrol | 110 | 6% |
| 25 Impression | Gas | 103 | 6% |
| 25 Impression S | Petrol | 101 | 6% |
| 25 Ixl | Petrol | 82 | 5% |
| 25 Gli | Petrol | 81 | 5% |
| 25 I 16V | Petrol | 77 | 5% |
| 25 Ie 16V | Petrol | 74 | 4% |
| 25 Gsi | Petrol | 73 | 4% |
| 25 Il Stepspeed | Gas | 66 | 4% |
| 25 Si 84 | Petrol | 66 | 4% |
| 25 Impression S2 | Petrol | 54 | 3% |
| 25 Sei 103 | Petrol | 53 | 3% |
| 25 Is 16V | Petrol | 52 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 68.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements |
| 2004 | 68.6% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 |
| 2003 | 67.2% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 |
| 2002 | 68.5% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 |
2 earlier years
| 2001 | 69.4% | a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 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 |
| 2000 | 67.8% | 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, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
Typical mileage
Half of all 25s tested had between 51,359 and 100,971 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 78,411 median miles, the 25 has 0.041 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Rover models
| Rover Mini | 75.8% |
| Rover 75 | 67.7% |
| Rover 45 | 65.3% |
| Rover 216 | 72% |
| Rover Metro | 72.6% |
Common questions
What is the Rover 25 MOT pass rate?
The Rover 25 has a 68.2% MOT pass rate based on 4,942 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Rover 25?
The most common MOT failure on the Rover 25 is a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, which caused 317 failures. Other common issues include 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.
How many Rover 25s are on UK roads?
There are 2,252 Rover 25s currently licensed on UK roads, with 6,121 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Rover 25 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Rover 25 is 78,411 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 51,359 and 100,971 miles.
Buying a used 25?
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 68.2% pass rate and an average repair bill of £157 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 54.7% 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.