Rover 420 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover 420 car check
Is the Rover 420 reliable? We analysed 369,436 real MOT tests across 59,332 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover 420? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover 420 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include constant velocity joint gaiter split, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 420.
Rover 420 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover 420. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover 420 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover 420 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover 420 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover 420 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover 420 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover 420 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover 420 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 420 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8,270 | 64.9% | 65,097 | 86,381 | 110,462 |
| 1999 | 68,479 | 63.9% | 70,444 | 92,472 | 117,924 |
| 1998 | 96,750 | 62.6% | 77,045 | 99,006 | 124,398 |
| 1997 | 98,468 | 62.2% | 78,110 | 100,306 | 125,322 |
| 1996 | 77,244 | 61.8% | 78,834 | 99,613 | 123,678 |
| 1995 | 5,927 | 63.8% | 77,799 | 97,524 | 119,034 |
| 1994 | 6,795 | 64.0% | 75,541 | 96,179 | 117,265 |
| 1993 | 5,348 | 63.1% | 79,071 | 99,701 | 121,182 |
| 1992 | 1,968 | 63.2% | 79,240 | 99,137 | 121,748 |
| 1971 | 61 | 55.7% | 82,823 | 129,001 | 147,764 |
How Long Does a Rover 420 Last?
Based on 59,332 Rover 420 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover 420 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover 420 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 420
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
64.9% MOT pass rate from 8,270 tests
55.7% MOT pass rate from 61 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover 420 is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 64.9% across 8,270 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 55.7% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover 420 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover 420 THIS CAR | 62.7% | 369,436 | 97,949 mi | 33 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 |
| BMW R Series | 91.2% | 261,180 | 28,009 mi | 49 yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 420 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover 420 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 420Should you buy a used Rover 420?
The Rover 420 has an overall MOT pass rate of 62.7% across 369,436 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Rover 420 are constant velocity joint gaiter split (35,342 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (33,911), and brake pipe excessively corroded (28,539). 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 420 owner drives around 6,220 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 420 models stay on UK roads for around 33 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.