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Rover 211 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rover 211 car check

Is the Rover 211 reliable? We analysed 85,809 real MOT tests across 10,592 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 85,809 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.0%
Typical Mileage
60,249mi
Annual Mileage
4,516mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Rover 211 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 211.

Rover 211 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Rover 211. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Rover 211 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Rover 211 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

69.2%
2000
70.4%
1999
69.7%
1998
71.4%
1997

Rover 211 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Rover 211 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 4,489
Brake pipe excessively corroded 4,365
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,024
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 2,511
Direction indicator incorrect colour 2,324
Stop lamp not working 2,299
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 2,095
constant velocity joint gaiter split 1,713
position lamp(s) not working 1,442
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 1,398

Rover 211 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Rover 211 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,523 mi/yr
Typical
4,516 mi/yr
Average
5,251 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,092 mi/yr

Rover 211 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 211 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 9,176 69.2% 41,322 56,741 74,025
1999 39,254 70.4% 42,554 58,800 76,790
1998 37,282 69.7% 46,400 62,670 80,273
1997 63 71.4% 57,222 68,459 78,247

How Long Does a Rover 211 Last?

Based on 10,592 Rover 211 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.5 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Rover 211 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Rover 211 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
60,249 mi
75th Percentile
78,100 mi
95th Percentile
106,644 mi
Max Recorded
994,043 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rover 211

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1997

71.4% MOT pass rate from 63 tests

Year to avoid
2000

69.2% MOT pass rate from 9,176 tests

The best year to buy a used Rover 211 is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 71.4% across 63 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 69.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Rover 211 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rover 211 THIS CAR 70.0% 85,809 60,249 mi 28 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
Ford Explorer 68.5% 69,767 90,322 mi 29 yrs

Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 211 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Rover 211?

The Rover 211 has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.0% across 85,809 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Rover 211 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4,489 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (4,365), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3,024). 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 211 owner drives around 4,516 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 211 models stay on UK roads for around 28 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.

Rover 211 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rover 211 reliable?
Based on 85,809 MOT tests, the Rover 211 has a 70.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Rover 211?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rover 211 do per year?
The typical Rover 211 does around 4,516 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rover 211 last?
Most Rover 211 models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 10,592 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rover 211?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Rover 211?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rover 211 is 1997 with a 71.4% pass rate across 63 tests.