Rover 820 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover 820 car check
Is the Rover 820 reliable? We analysed 92,659 real MOT tests across 19,658 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover 820? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover 820 is below average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, constant velocity joint gaiter split and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover 820.
Rover 820 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover 820. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover 820 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover 820 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover 820 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover 820 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover 820 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover 820 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover 820 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 820 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 304 | 65.8% | 63,880 | 86,438 | 106,300 |
| 1999 | 12,356 | 65.4% | 58,175 | 77,820 | 100,897 |
| 1998 | 14,336 | 64.4% | 69,518 | 89,064 | 111,500 |
| 1997 | 17,498 | 64.8% | 71,997 | 93,602 | 116,612 |
| 1996 | 13,889 | 63.4% | 72,414 | 91,978 | 116,472 |
| 1995 | 9,746 | 61.6% | 75,785 | 96,754 | 118,733 |
| 1994 | 7,636 | 61.7% | 82,919 | 103,740 | 126,176 |
| 1993 | 7,461 | 63.2% | 85,909 | 108,338 | 131,392 |
| 1992 | 4,739 | 63.1% | 85,013 | 108,125 | 131,424 |
| 1991 | 1,970 | 66.4% | 69,420 | 95,503 | 123,728 |
| 1990 | 1,457 | 66.1% | 63,920 | 88,740 | 122,251 |
| 1989 | 724 | 66.7% | 52,322 | 81,304 | 118,793 |
| 1988 | 255 | 68.2% | 48,250 | 69,868 | 88,128 |
| 1987 | 170 | 73.5% | 24,539 | 67,780 | 91,016 |
| 1971 | 66 | 60.6% | 75,345 | 103,185 | 123,055 |
How Long Does a Rover 820 Last?
Based on 19,658 Rover 820 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover 820 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover 820 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 820
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
73.5% MOT pass rate from 170 tests
60.6% MOT pass rate from 66 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover 820 is 1987, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 73.5% across 170 tests. The 1971 model year has the lowest pass rate at 60.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover 820 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover 820 THIS CAR | 63.9% | 92,659 | 93,332 mi | 36 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 |
| Talbot Express | 65.4% | 171,025 | 71,000 mi | 41 yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 820 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover 820 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 820Should you buy a used Rover 820?
The Rover 820 has an overall MOT pass rate of 63.9% across 92,659 real MOT tests — below the UK average, so reliability should be a key concern.
The most common problems on the Rover 820 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (9,076 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (6,826), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (5,771). 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 820 owner drives around 4,012 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 820 models stay on UK roads for around 36 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.