Rover 820
From 575 MOT tests. Average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
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, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements and emissions levels exceed default 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 44 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 | 44 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 28 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 21 |
| a suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn | 20 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 18 |
| parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 16 |
| emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits | 16 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 14 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 12 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 12 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 30.8% of 820 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 23.9% 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 £153.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 68.6% | 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 |
Typical mileage
Half of all 820s tested had between 58,111 and 119,691 miles on the clock. A significant number are high-mileage vehicles.
At 86,776 median miles, the 820 has 0.033 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 820 MOT pass rate?
The Rover 820 has a 71.5% MOT pass rate based on 575 real MOT tests. This is around the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Rover 820?
The most common MOT failure on the Rover 820 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 44 failures. Other common issues include the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements.
What is the typical mileage of a Rover 820 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Rover 820 is 86,776 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 58,111 and 119,691 miles.
Buying a used 820?
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 71.5% pass rate and an average repair bill of £153 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 30.8% 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.