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Rover 825 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rover 825 car check

Is the Rover 825 reliable? We analysed 28,395 real MOT tests across 5,078 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 28,395 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
65.8%
Typical Mileage
91,137mi
Annual Mileage
4,080mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
34yrs

The Rover 825 is about 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 825.

Rover 825 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Rover 825. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Rover 825 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Rover 825 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

69.8%
2000
67%
1999
66.1%
1998
66.9%
1997
64.5%
1996
60.8%
1995
62.3%
1994
62.3%
1993
58.6%
1992
61.3%
1991
68.7%
1987
65.4%
1986

Rover 825 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Rover 825 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 2,646
constant velocity joint gaiter split 1,712
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 1,511
Brake pipe excessively corroded 1,111
parking brake recording little or no effort 1,022
brake disc excessively pitted 987
Anti-lock braking system warning lamp indicates an ABS fault 902
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 845
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 770
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 711

Rover 825 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Rover 825 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,948 mi/yr
Typical
4,080 mi/yr
Average
5,135 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,906 mi/yr

Rover 825 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover 825 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2000 126 69.8% 44,494 62,863 83,572
1999 7,460 67.0% 56,752 78,062 102,800
1998 5,997 66.1% 69,188 91,702 117,808
1997 6,643 66.9% 68,772 89,720 113,791
1996 4,652 64.5% 73,207 94,403 117,119
1995 678 60.8% 92,160 117,655 143,092
1994 980 62.3% 107,126 130,047 155,450
1993 769 62.3% 116,719 137,358 165,317
1992 379 58.6% 90,213 121,340 157,039
1991 305 61.3% 93,224 115,330 141,104
1987 166 68.7% 55,924 70,521 105,701
1986 81 65.4% 65,590 85,695 96,579

How Long Does a Rover 825 Last?

Based on 5,078 Rover 825 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.9 years
Median
11.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
34 years

Rover 825 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Rover 825 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
91,137 mi
75th Percentile
118,074 mi
95th Percentile
167,548 mi
Max Recorded
999,999 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rover 825

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

Best year
2000

69.8% MOT pass rate from 126 tests

Year to avoid
1992

58.6% MOT pass rate from 379 tests

The best year to buy a used Rover 825 is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 69.8% across 126 tests. The 1992 model year has the lowest pass rate at 58.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Rover 825 Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rover 825 THIS CAR 65.8% 28,395 91,137 mi 34 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
Ldv Cub 62.8% 52,091 85,803 mi 28 yrs

Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover 825 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Rover 825?

The Rover 825 has an overall MOT pass rate of 65.8% across 28,395 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Rover 825 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (2,646 recorded failures), constant velocity joint gaiter split (1,712), and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,511). 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 825 owner drives around 4,080 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 825 models stay on UK roads for around 34 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 825 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rover 825 reliable?
Based on 28,395 MOT tests, the Rover 825 has a 65.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Rover 825?
The most common MOT failures are parking brake: efficiency below requirements, constant velocity joint gaiter split, and tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rover 825 do per year?
The typical Rover 825 does around 4,080 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rover 825 last?
Most Rover 825 models stay on UK roads for around 34 years based on our analysis of 5,078 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rover 825?
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 825?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rover 825 is 2000 with a 69.8% pass rate across 126 tests.