Rover Streetwise
From 688 MOT tests. Below 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 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 and a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play. 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 41 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 | 41 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 38 |
| a steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play | 27 |
| wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 26 |
| a transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated | 18 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 17 |
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 16 |
| exhaust system leaking or insecure | 16 |
| stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 16 |
| a lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 14 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 41.5% of Streetwise failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 19.2% 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 £145.
Fuel type matters
Petrol versions pass at 69% while Diesel versions pass at 63.1%, a 6 percentage point gap.
Rover Streetwise on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 135 scrapped or exported in the past year, a net loss of 135. At this rate, roughly 6.2 years until none remain. Now at 12.2% of its peak (6,894 in 2006 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 285 | 558 | +0 | -17 | -17 |
| 2025 Q2 | 294 | 566 | +0 | -22 | -22 |
| 2025 Q1 | 316 | 566 | +0 | -47 | -47 |
| 2024 Q4 | 343 | 586 | +0 | -49 | -49 |
| 2024 Q3 | 371 | 607 | +0 | -31 | -31 |
| 2024 Q2 | 382 | 627 | +0 | -25 | -25 |
| 2024 Q1 | 403 | 631 | +0 | -18 | -18 |
| 2023 Q4 | 419 | 633 | +0 | -16 | -16 |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
By registration year
| Year | Pass rate | Top failures |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 73.6% | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen, tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements |
| 2004 | 66.3% | 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 transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc |
| 2003 | 72.5% | 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, significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake |
Typical mileage
Half of all Streetwises tested had between 70,584 and 99,283 miles on the clock.
At 71,951 median miles, the Streetwise has 0.045 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 Streetwise MOT pass rate?
The Rover Streetwise has a 67.7% MOT pass rate based on 688 real MOT tests. This is below the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Rover Streetwise?
The most common MOT failure on the Rover Streetwise 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 41 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 Streetwises are on UK roads?
There are 285 Rover Streetwises currently licensed on UK roads, with 558 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Rover Streetwise at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Rover Streetwise is 71,951 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 70,584 and 99,283 miles.
Buying a used Streetwise?
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 67.7% pass rate and an average repair bill of £145 when things go wrong, budget accordingly. 41.5% 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.