Rover 45
From 3,273 MOT tests. Below average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by registration year
Older 45s fare better: 2005 models pass at 61.3% vs 66.8% for 2002.
Pass rate by fuel type
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, a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, a suspension pin and bush or joint excessively worn. 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 450 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.
| 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 | 450 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 179 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 123 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 108 |
| vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced | 96 |
| tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements | 93 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 88 |
| a suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated | 86 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 84 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 80 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 58.3% of 45 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 15.2% 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 £191.
Rover 45 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 648 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 648. At this rate, roughly 7.1 years until none remain. Now at 6.6% of its peak (70,411 in 2005 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,337 | 3,290 | +0 | -98 | -98 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,418 | 3,307 | +0 | -85 | -85 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,491 | 3,319 | +0 | -207 | -207 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,600 | 3,417 | +0 | -258 | -258 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,743 | 3,532 | +0 | -190 | -190 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,875 | 3,590 | +0 | -139 | -139 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,995 | 3,609 | +0 | -151 | -151 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,146 | 3,609 | +0 | -144 | -144 |
5 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 Impression S3 | Petrol | 159 | 35% |
| 45 Club Se | Gas | 113 | 25% |
| 45 Il 16V | Gas | 75 | 17% |
| 45 Ixs 16V | Petrol | 52 | 12% |
| 45 Ie 16V | Gas | 50 | 11% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 61.3% | 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 suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn |
| 2004 | 64.9% | 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 |
| 2003 | 65.6% | 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 |
| 2002 | 66.8% | 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 |
2 earlier years
| 2001 | 68.4% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
| 2000 | 62.1% | 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, vehicle structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is seriously reduced |
Typical mileage
Half of all 45s tested had between 46,773 and 92,475 miles on the clock.
At 65,905 median miles, the 45 has 0.053 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Rover models
| Rover Mini | 75.8% |
| Rover 75 | 67.7% |
| Rover 25 | 68.2% |
| Rover 216 | 72% |
| Rover Metro | 72.6% |
Common questions
What is the Rover 45 MOT pass rate?
The Rover 45 has a 65.3% MOT pass rate based on 3,273 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Rover 45?
The most common MOT failure on the Rover 45 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 450 failures. Other common issues include a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
How many Rover 45s are on UK roads?
There are 1,337 Rover 45s currently licensed on UK roads, with 3,290 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Rover 45 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Rover 45 is 65,905 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 46,773 and 92,475 miles.
Buying a used 45?
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 65.3% pass rate and an average repair bill of £191 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 58.3% 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.