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Rover 416 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rover 416 car check

Is the Rover 416 reliable? We analysed 648,418 real MOT tests across 110,608 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 648,418 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.0%
Typical Mileage
78,347mi
Annual Mileage
4,721mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
35yrs

The Rover 416 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 constant velocity joint gaiter split. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 416.

Rover 416 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Rover 416. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Rover 416 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Rover 416 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

66.7%
2001
66.4%
2000
67.6%
1999
66.4%
1998
65.6%
1997
64.7%
1996
65.7%
1995
66.8%
1994
65.4%
1993
64.7%
1992
65.1%
1991
65%
1990
67.1%
1971

Rover 416 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Rover 416 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 47,498
Brake pipe excessively corroded 33,994
constant velocity joint gaiter split 28,072
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive 27,904
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 22,669
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 21,843
Stop lamp not working 21,711
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 19,577
Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement 19,412
Direction indicator incorrect colour 16,647

Rover 416 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Rover 416 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,653 mi/yr
Typical
4,721 mi/yr
Average
5,601 mi/yr
Heavy usage
7,428 mi/yr

Rover 416 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 416 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2001 84 66.7% 48,050 61,578 77,619
2000 12,873 66.4% 52,397 67,818 85,359
1999 104,657 67.6% 54,966 71,424 89,582
1998 148,672 66.4% 57,116 73,143 90,944
1997 125,576 65.6% 62,034 78,603 96,174
1996 100,036 64.7% 63,826 80,226 97,983
1995 81,049 65.7% 67,857 85,429 104,820
1994 26,961 66.8% 67,880 88,925 110,878
1993 20,203 65.4% 70,360 91,814 114,260
1992 10,248 64.7% 73,434 97,491 122,202
1991 11,469 65.1% 74,299 99,750 126,523
1990 6,394 65.0% 69,579 97,484 129,966
1971 79 67.1% 76,500 84,440 124,078

How Long Does a Rover 416 Last?

Based on 110,608 Rover 416 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.9 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
35 years

Rover 416 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Rover 416 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
78,347 mi
75th Percentile
97,659 mi
95th Percentile
132,500 mi
Max Recorded
999,853 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rover 416

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

Best year
1999

67.6% MOT pass rate from 104,657 tests

Year to avoid
1992

64.7% MOT pass rate from 10,248 tests

The best year to buy a used Rover 416 is 1999, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 67.6% across 104,657 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 64.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Rover 416 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rover 416 THIS CAR 66.0% 648,418 78,347 mi 35 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
Chevrolet Spark 71.9% 273,626 47,852 mi 16 yrs

Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 416 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Rover 416?

The Rover 416 has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.0% across 648,418 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Rover 416 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (47,498 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (33,994), and constant velocity joint gaiter split (28,072). 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 416 owner drives around 4,721 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 416 models stay on UK roads for around 35 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 416 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rover 416 reliable?
Based on 648,418 MOT tests, the Rover 416 has a 66.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Rover 416?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded, and constant velocity joint gaiter split. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rover 416 do per year?
The typical Rover 416 does around 4,721 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rover 416 last?
Most Rover 416 models stay on UK roads for around 35 years based on our analysis of 110,608 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rover 416?
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 416?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rover 416 is 1999 with a 67.6% pass rate across 104,657 tests.