Rover P5 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Rover P5 car check
Is the Rover P5 reliable? We analysed 1,923 real MOT tests across 193 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Rover P5? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Rover P5 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include parking brake: efficiency below requirements, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and parking brake recording little or no effort. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover P5.
Rover P5 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Rover P5. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Rover P5 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Rover P5 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Rover P5 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Rover P5 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Rover P5 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Rover P5 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Rover P5 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Rover P5 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 192 | 79.7% | 16,307 | 61,902 | 81,354 |
| 1972 | 361 | 78.7% | 19,997 | 55,687 | 81,784 |
| 1971 | 244 | 76.2% | 51,361 | 74,158 | 81,179 |
| 1970 | 167 | 76.6% | 35,133 | 61,483 | 81,124 |
| 1969 | 230 | 72.2% | 37,878 | 62,000 | 84,755 |
| 1968 | 182 | 76.4% | 51,844 | 68,242 | 85,116 |
| 1967 | 61 | 83.6% | 44,582 | 47,798 | 95,513 |
| 1966 | 85 | 75.3% | 30,822 | 58,194 | 81,412 |
| 1965 | 64 | 81.3% | 28,989 | 49,935 | 81,383 |
| 1964 | 81 | 85.2% | 32,384 | 41,710 | 52,813 |
| 1963 | 51 | 86.3% | 34,407 | 52,300 | 65,097 |
| 1960 | 68 | 82.4% | 35,088 | 51,361 | 54,524 |
How Long Does a Rover P5 Last?
Based on 193 Rover P5 vehicles on UK roads.
Rover P5 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Rover P5 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 P5
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
86.3% MOT pass rate from 51 tests
72.2% MOT pass rate from 230 tests
The best year to buy a used Rover P5 is 1963, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 86.3% across 51 tests. The 1969 model year has the lowest pass rate at 72.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Rover P5 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rover P5 THIS CAR | 78.2% | 1,923 | 61,711 mi | 66 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 |
| Ford Fiesta Zetec S TDCI | 83.6% | 1,372 | 87,504 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover P5 outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Rover P5 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 P5Should you buy a used Rover P5?
The Rover P5 has an overall MOT pass rate of 78.2% across 1,923 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Rover P5 are parking brake: efficiency below requirements (117 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (64), and parking brake recording little or no effort (64). 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 P5 owner drives around 352 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 P5 models stay on UK roads for around 66 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.