Rover 218 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover 218 car check
Is the Rover 218 reliable? We analysed 106,618 real MOT tests across 21,767 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover 218? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover 218 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, constant velocity joint gaiter split and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 218.
Rover 218 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover 218. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover 218 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover 218 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover 218 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover 218 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover 218 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover 218 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover 218 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 218 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2,530 | 65.4% | 62,012 | 81,462 | 101,063 |
| 1998 | 16,189 | 65.7% | 66,765 | 83,580 | 102,746 |
| 1997 | 7,592 | 64.7% | 70,024 | 87,270 | 105,195 |
| 1996 | 2,622 | 65.3% | 84,911 | 109,008 | 131,907 |
| 1995 | 34,859 | 64.8% | 93,318 | 116,963 | 141,913 |
| 1994 | 26,995 | 63.5% | 98,279 | 121,764 | 147,122 |
| 1993 | 9,451 | 63.3% | 102,134 | 127,748 | 153,524 |
| 1992 | 4,516 | 64.5% | 101,571 | 131,583 | 158,285 |
| 1991 | 1,736 | 64.7% | 95,376 | 120,404 | 152,479 |
How Long Does a Rover 218 Last?
Based on 21,767 Rover 218 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover 218 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover 218 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 218
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
65.7% MOT pass rate from 16,189 tests
63.3% MOT pass rate from 9,451 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover 218 is 1998, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 65.7% across 16,189 tests. The 1993 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover 218 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover 218 THIS CAR | 64.5% | 106,618 | 110,654 mi | 34 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 |
| Toyota Lucida | 67.2% | 99,205 | 132,418 mi | 34 yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 218 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover 218 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 218Should you buy a used Rover 218?
The Rover 218 has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.5% across 106,618 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Rover 218 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (9,334 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (8,429), and suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (6,994). 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 218 owner drives around 5,299 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 218 models stay on UK roads for around 34 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.