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Rover Streetwise Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Rover Streetwise car check

Is the Rover Streetwise reliable? We analysed 99,524 real MOT tests across 7,213 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 99,524 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
72.0%
Typical Mileage
51,572mi
Annual Mileage
5,402mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
23yrs

The Rover Streetwise is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include track rod end ball joint has excessive play, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Rover Streetwise.

Rover Streetwise Number Plates

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

Rover Streetwise MOT Pass Rate by Year

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

71.9%
2006
72.5%
2005
72%
2004
72%
2003

Rover Streetwise Problems — What Goes Wrong?

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

Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 4,744
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 3,632
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,100
Stop lamp not working 2,357
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 2,268
position lamp(s) not working 1,622
constant velocity joint gaiter damaged to the extent that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc 1,606
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,424
Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits 1,213
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 1,137

Rover Streetwise Mileage — What's Normal?

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

Low usage
3,182 mi/yr
Typical
5,402 mi/yr
Average
6,264 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,284 mi/yr

Rover Streetwise MOT Data by Registration Year

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

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2006 1,970 71.9% 34,974 52,520 74,042
2005 10,545 72.5% 31,633 49,820 72,145
2004 60,899 72.0% 33,480 51,781 73,698
2003 26,039 72.0% 33,210 51,750 72,900

How Long Does a Rover Streetwise Last?

Based on 7,213 Rover Streetwise vehicles on UK roads.

Average
11.8 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
23 years

Rover Streetwise Mileage Distribution

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

Median
51,572 mi
75th Percentile
73,290 mi
95th Percentile
109,292 mi
Max Recorded
895,123 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Rover Streetwise

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

Best year
2005

72.5% MOT pass rate from 10,545 tests

Year to avoid
2006

71.9% MOT pass rate from 1,970 tests

The best year to buy a used Rover Streetwise is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 72.5% across 10,545 tests. The 2006 model year has the lowest pass rate at 71.9% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Rover Streetwise Compare?

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

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Rover Streetwise THIS CAR 72.0% 99,524 51,572 mi 23 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
Volvo 300 Series 65.9% 60,684 74,914 mi 43 yrs

Compared to the Rover 25 (72.1% pass rate) and the Rover 75 (70.7% pass rate), the Rover Streetwise sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Rover Streetwise?

The Rover Streetwise has an overall MOT pass rate of 72.0% across 99,524 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Rover Streetwise are track rod end ball joint has excessive play (4,744 recorded failures), tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3,632), and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3,100). 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 Streetwise owner drives around 5,402 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 Streetwise models stay on UK roads for around 23 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 Streetwise — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Rover Streetwise reliable?
Based on 99,524 MOT tests, the Rover Streetwise has a 72.0% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Rover Streetwise?
The most common MOT failures are track rod end ball joint has excessive play, tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, and windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Rover Streetwise do per year?
The typical Rover Streetwise does around 5,402 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Rover Streetwise last?
Most Rover Streetwise models stay on UK roads for around 23 years based on our analysis of 7,213 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Rover Streetwise?
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 Streetwise?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Rover Streetwise is 2005 with a 72.5% pass rate across 10,545 tests.