Rover 21 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover 21 car check
Is the Rover 21 reliable? We analysed 953 real MOT tests across 190 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover 21? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover 21 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include brake pipe excessively corroded, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 21.
Rover 21 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover 21. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover 21 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover 21 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover 21 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover 21 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover 21 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover 21 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover 21 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 21 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 360 | 65.6% | 61,540 | 74,808 | 88,478 |
| 1997 | 587 | 66.6% | 62,055 | 74,651 | 91,222 |
How Long Does a Rover 21 Last?
Based on 190 Rover 21 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover 21 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover 21 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Rover 21
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
66.6% MOT pass rate from 587 tests
65.6% MOT pass rate from 360 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover 21 is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 66.6% across 587 tests. The 1998 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover 21 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover 21 THIS CAR | 66.1% | 953 | 74,692 mi | 29 yrs |
| Rover 25 | 72.1% | 1,784,341 | 53,712 mi | 26 yrs |
| Rover 75 | 70.7% | 1,365,354 | 77,595 mi | 27 yrs |
| Rover 214 | 67.6% | 1,033,973 | 75,438 mi | 36 yrs |
| Mercedes C220 CDI | 69.1% | 291 | 143,980 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 21 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover 21 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Rover 21Should you buy a used Rover 21?
The Rover 21 has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.1% across 953 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Rover 21 are brake pipe excessively corroded (85 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (80), and exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (50). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Rover 21 owner drives around 6,248 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Rover 21 models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.