Rover 45 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover 45 car check
Is the Rover 45 reliable? We analysed 849,212 real MOT tests across 72,661 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover 45? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover 45 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 45.
Rover 45 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover 45. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover 45 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover 45 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover 45 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover 45 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover 45 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover 45 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover 45 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 45 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 83 | 73.5% | 28,628 | 50,928 | 75,600 |
| 2007 | 122 | 69.7% | 31,097 | 47,542 | 62,696 |
| 2006 | 1,589 | 73.6% | 30,186 | 46,724 | 67,406 |
| 2005 | 31,643 | 74.0% | 30,431 | 48,176 | 70,296 |
| 2004 | 92,667 | 74.2% | 31,483 | 49,972 | 72,993 |
| 2003 | 138,257 | 73.7% | 33,648 | 52,274 | 75,226 |
| 2002 | 172,147 | 73.1% | 38,603 | 56,886 | 79,377 |
| 2001 | 198,213 | 72.0% | 45,213 | 64,645 | 88,184 |
| 2000 | 213,951 | 70.0% | 50,939 | 69,523 | 91,862 |
| 1999 | 396 | 68.4% | 44,380 | 61,479 | 81,265 |
How Long Does a Rover 45 Last?
Based on 72,661 Rover 45 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover 45 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover 45 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 45
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
74.2% MOT pass rate from 92,667 tests
68.4% MOT pass rate from 396 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover 45 is 2004, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 74.2% across 92,667 tests. The 1999 model year has the lowest pass rate at 68.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover 45 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover 45 THIS CAR | 72.3% | 849,212 | 60,304 mi | 26 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 |
| Hyundai IX20 | 80.1% | 324,673 | 37,800 mi | 16 yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 45 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover 45 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 45Should you buy a used Rover 45?
The Rover 45 has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.3% across 849,212 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.
The most common problems on the Rover 45 are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (48,934 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (22,560), and stop lamp not working (21,816). 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 45 owner drives around 5,217 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 45 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.