CarVerify

Free Car Check

R251 UOJ

1997 Rover Mini

Purple Petrol 1275cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Jun 2027
Tests28 (18 pass, 10 fail)
Pass rate64.3%

Mileage

71,218 mi
Last recorded71,218 miles
Recorded on16 Jun 2026
Typical for 1997 Rover Mini51,557 mi

Above average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £9.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationR251 UOJ
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourPurple
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

18 pass 10 fail
Pass 16 Jun 2026 71,218 miles

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 15 Jun 2026 71,216 miles

Service brake efficiency below requirements (1.2.2 (a) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 4 Apr 2025 70,416 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Fail 26 Feb 2025 70,414 miles

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Exhaust hydrocarbon content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Sill/Floor area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Nearside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Sill/Floor area (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced Outer Sill (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Pass 7 Feb 2024 68,802 miles

Slight corrosion to both front inner sill ends.

Pass 12 Dec 2022 68,448 miles
Pass 14 Dec 2021 68,293 miles

Nearside Front Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated lower trumpet ball joint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension component ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated lower trumpet ball joint (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Pass 11 Dec 2020 68,251 miles

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fail 3 Dec 2020 68,251 miles

Exhaust Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (8.2.1.2 (c))

Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds manufacturer's specified limits (8.2.1.2 (a))

Exhaust catalytic converter missing where one was fitted as standard (8.2.1.1 (a))

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Nearside Rear Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened outer webbing corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (4.4.3 (a))

Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is inadequately repaired outer sill to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension rod insecurely attached tie bar lower bolt locking nut not properly fitted (5.3.3 (a) (i))

Offside Rear Sub-frame corroded and seriously weakened outer webbing corroded (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength inner wheel arch (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Driver's seat insecure (6.2.5 (a) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Nearside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive outer sill to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Nearside Suspension component mounting repair covered in underseal outer sill to floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Pass 29 Nov 2019 68,140 miles

Oil leak, but not excessive (8.4.1 (a) (i))

Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material Both (1.1.11 (c))

Pass 8 Nov 2018 67,868 miles
Pass 9 Nov 2017 67,601 miles

Offside nearside front floors corroded

Fail 2 Nov 2017 67,598 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (7.3.B.1a)

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt inner knuckel (2.4.G.2)

Offside nearside front floors corroded

Pass 18 May 2017 67,569 miles
Fail 18 May 2017 67,569 miles

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt inner joint (2.4.G.2)

Pass 18 May 2016 66,933 miles
Fail 16 May 2016 66,931 miles

Nearside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt inner knuckel (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Offside Steering rack gaiter split (2.2.D.2d)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Pass 20 May 2015 66,284 miles

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 19 May 2015 66,279 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Nearside Front Front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside rear brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.5a)

Offside Front Upper Front suspension ball joint dust cover insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Service brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Offside Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Fail 4 Dec 2013 66,272 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Pass 16 Jul 2012 64,557 miles
Pass 3 Mar 2011 63,918 miles

rear subframe rusting

Fail 3 Dec 2010 63,915 miles

Driver's seat insecure (6.2.A.1)

Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits (7.3.D.3)

Nearside Front Headlamp aim aimed so that it dazzles other road users (1.8.A.1a)

Nearside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Front Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion (6.1.C.1)

Offside Front Shock absorber has negligible damping effect (2.7.5)

Offside Front Steering system has a tyre fouling a part of the vehicle (2.2.D.2a)

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (2.4.G.1)

Pass 7 Aug 2009 61,780 miles
Fail 22 Jul 2009 61,567 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Front Direction indicator incorrect colour (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)

Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Pass 29 Jul 2008 58,677 miles
Pass 21 Jun 2007 54,771 miles
Pass 6 Jun 2006 47,639 miles

Nearside Front Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Front Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Nearside Vehicle structure has slight corrosion (6.1.B.2)

Offside Front Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front Front suspension has slight play in a upper suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

How Reliable is the Rover Mini?

Based on 519,169 MOT tests across 45,631 vehicles.

66.8%
Pass Rate
876
Miles/Year
47
Year Lifespan
45,631
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 32,036
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 24,016
Steering rack gaiter split 21,375
Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 18,460
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 18,348
Full Rover Mini reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

R251 UOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini in Purple with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 28 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 64.3%.

Across all 1997 Rover Mini models, the average MOT pass rate is 66.4% with a typical mileage of 51,557 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a Rover Mini fails its MOT is subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 32,036 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R251 UOJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Rover Mini typically stays on UK roads for around 47 years. At 29 years old, this Rover Mini is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R251 UOJ?

You can check the full history of R251 UOJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R251 UOJ registered?

R251 UOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 10 December 1997.

Is R251 UOJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R251 UOJ shows 28 tests with a 64.3% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R251 UOJ have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on R251 UOJ. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.