Rover 400 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover 400 car check
Is the Rover 400 reliable? We analysed 1,554 real MOT tests across 281 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover 400? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover 400 is below 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 constant velocity joint gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 400.
Rover 400 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover 400. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover 400 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover 400 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover 400 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover 400 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover 400 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover 400 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover 400 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 400 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 84 | 59.5% | 59,326 | 74,205 | 91,226 |
| 1999 | 583 | 65.9% | 48,105 | 67,618 | 91,379 |
| 1998 | 462 | 66.0% | 62,717 | 76,662 | 93,708 |
| 1997 | 212 | 66.0% | 62,883 | 77,959 | 90,654 |
| 1996 | 163 | 59.5% | 48,899 | 69,858 | 95,123 |
How Long Does a Rover 400 Last?
Based on 281 Rover 400 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover 400 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover 400 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 400
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
66.0% MOT pass rate from 212 tests
59.5% MOT pass rate from 163 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover 400 is 1997, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 66.0% across 212 tests. The 1996 model year has the lowest pass rate at 59.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover 400 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover 400 THIS CAR | 64.9% | 1,554 | 73,635 mi | 30 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 |
| Citroen Dispatch 1200 L2H1 En-rise HDI | 82.6% | 576 | 93,122 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 400 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover 400 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 400Should you buy a used Rover 400?
The Rover 400 has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.9% across 1,554 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Rover 400 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (115 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (107), and constant velocity joint gaiter split (84). 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 400 owner drives around 5,605 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 400 models stay on UK roads for around 30 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.