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Rover Range Rover Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rover Range Rover car check

Is the Rover Range Rover reliable? We analysed 1,576 real MOT tests across 381 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,576 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
69.9%
Typical Mileage
83,896mi
Annual Mileage
2,722mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
55yrs

The Rover Range Rover is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover Range Rover.

Rover Range Rover Number Plates

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

Rover Range Rover MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

66.2%
1995
67.2%
1989
64.2%
1988
68.8%
1985
65.9%
1984
63.4%
1983
67.9%
1982
76%
1972
78.5%
1971

Rover Range Rover Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 123
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 103
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 92
Brake pipe excessively corroded 76
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 58
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 46
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive 34
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 33
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 32
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 30

Rover Range Rover Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
925 mi/yr
Typical
2,722 mi/yr
Average
4,326 mi/yr
Heavy usage
5,558 mi/yr

Rover Range Rover MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
1995 65 66.2% 101,612 117,098 159,072
1989 58 67.2% 96,890 107,300 121,521
1988 67 64.2% 90,232 139,173 154,525
1985 186 68.8% 74,080 105,891 142,635
1984 129 65.9% 42,744 73,549 99,441
1983 131 63.4% 22,187 45,696 82,486
1982 56 67.9% 10,123 33,987 97,052
1972 125 76.0% 30,438 67,340 72,560
1971 65 78.5% 33,714 62,962 123,007

How Long Does a Rover Range Rover Last?

Based on 381 Rover Range Rover vehicles on UK roads.

Average
24.7 years
Median
23.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
55 years

Rover Range Rover Mileage Distribution

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

Median
83,896 mi
75th Percentile
118,760 mi
95th Percentile
173,016 mi
Max Recorded
521,611 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rover Range Rover

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

Best year
1971

78.5% MOT pass rate from 65 tests

Year to avoid
1983

63.4% MOT pass rate from 131 tests

The best year to buy a used Rover Range Rover is 1971, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 78.5% across 65 tests. The 1983 model year has the lowest pass rate at 63.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Rover Range Rover Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rover Range Rover THIS CAR 69.9% 1,576 83,896 mi 55 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
Seat Ibiza SE Copa 88.5% 2,189 71,666 mi — yrs

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

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Should you buy a used Rover Range Rover?

The Rover Range Rover has an overall MOT pass rate of 69.9% across 1,576 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Rover Range Rover are body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings (123 recorded failures), seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (103), and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush (92). 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 Range Rover owner drives around 2,722 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 Range Rover models stay on UK roads for around 55 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 Range Rover — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rover Range Rover reliable?
Based on 1,576 MOT tests, the Rover Range Rover has a 69.9% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Rover Range Rover?
The most common MOT failures are body or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings, seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, and shock absorber has an excessively worn bush. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rover Range Rover do per year?
The typical Rover Range Rover does around 2,722 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rover Range Rover last?
Most Rover Range Rover models stay on UK roads for around 55 years based on our analysis of 381 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rover Range Rover?
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 Range Rover?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rover Range Rover is 1971 with a 78.5% pass rate across 65 tests.