Rover 25 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover 25 car check
Is the Rover 25 reliable? We analysed 1,784,341 real MOT tests across 157,261 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover 25? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover 25 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 25.
Rover 25 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover 25. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover 25 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover 25 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover 25 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover 25 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover 25 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover 25 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover 25 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 25 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 412 | 73.8% | 25,458 | 39,088 | 57,321 |
| 2006 | 8,541 | 73.5% | 26,557 | 41,526 | 60,796 |
| 2005 | 68,439 | 74.1% | 27,589 | 43,892 | 63,744 |
| 2004 | 154,254 | 73.4% | 28,378 | 44,756 | 64,838 |
| 2003 | 313,289 | 72.9% | 31,061 | 47,589 | 67,722 |
| 2002 | 367,462 | 73.3% | 34,502 | 50,970 | 70,789 |
| 2001 | 450,035 | 71.8% | 39,305 | 56,040 | 75,802 |
| 2000 | 409,247 | 70.0% | 45,322 | 62,411 | 81,682 |
| 1999 | 12,248 | 67.9% | 48,138 | 64,917 | 84,472 |
| 1998 | 140 | 72.1% | 42,012 | 57,677 | 78,493 |
How Long Does a Rover 25 Last?
Based on 157,261 Rover 25 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover 25 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover 25 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 25
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
74.1% MOT pass rate from 68,439 tests
67.9% MOT pass rate from 12,248 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover 25 is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.1% across 68,439 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 67.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover 25 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover 25 THIS CAR | 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 |
| Rover 45 | 72.3% | 849,212 | 60,304 mi | 26 yrs |
| Kia Sedona | 67.7% | 571,888 | 73,917 mi | 26 yrs |
Compared to the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate) and the Rover 214 (67.6% pass rate), the Rover 25 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover 25 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 25Should you buy a used Rover 25?
The Rover 25 has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.1% across 1,784,341 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Rover 25 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (69,670 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (54,138), and stop lamp not working (45,218). 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 25 owner drives around 4,984 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 25 models stay on UK roads for around 26 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.