CarVerify

Free Car Check

R357 SOJ

1997 Rover Mini

Green Petrol 1275cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 May 2027
Tests24 (12 pass, 12 fail)
Pass rate50%

Mileage

62,244 mi
Last recorded62,244 miles
Recorded on20 May 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

RegistrationR357 SOJ
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourGreen
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

12 pass 12 fail
Pass 20 May 2026 62,244 miles

Nearside Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 1 Apr 2026 62,244 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Outer Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

Offside Front Outer Tyre has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure (5.2.3 (d) (ii)) DANGEROUS

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

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

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

Fail 16 Sep 2025 62,241 miles

Front Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))

Nearside Front Track rod end modification unsafe (2.1.3 (f) (i))

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

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

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper blade defective (3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Rear Integral body structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced (6.1.1 (c) (i))

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive boot floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Pass 8 Jul 2024 61,874 miles

Exhaust flex taking a beating

Fuel cap seal starting to split

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Boot floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Wiper arms badly worn

Fail 8 Jul 2024 61,874 miles

Nearside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension rod pin or bush excessively worn Bush missing (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Steering rack gaiter missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Exhaust flex taking a beating

Fuel cap seal starting to split

Offside Rear Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect (5.3.2 (d))

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive Boot floor (5.3.6 (a) (i))

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

Wiper arms badly worn

Pass 12 Sep 2023 61,662 miles
Fail 24 Jun 2022 61,661 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength sill (5.3.6 (a) (i))

Offside Front Side repeater not working (4.4.1 (a) (ii))

Offside Rear Outer Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Rear Brakes imbalanced across an axle Axle 2 (1.2.1 (b) (i))

Registration plate lamp inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps (4.7.1 (b) (ii))

Nearside Rear Outer Tyre has a cut but not deep enough to reach the ply or cords sidewall (5.2.3 (d) (i))

Pass 2 Jul 2021 60,322 miles

Fuel cap seal deteriorated

Fail 18 Jun 2021 60,317 miles

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

Exhaust carbon monoxide content at idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

Offside Rear Wheel bearing has excessive play (5.1.3 (a) (i))

Fuel cap seal deteriorated

Pass 15 Aug 2019 60,199 miles
Fail 12 Aug 2019 60,199 miles

Emissions not tested engine missfire (8.2.1.2 (d))

Nearside Headlamp aim projected beam image is obviously incorrect (4.1.2 (c))

Rear fog lamp not working (4.5.1 (a) (ii))

Pass 3 May 2018 59,368 miles
Fail 24 Apr 2018 59,368 miles

Nearside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Nearside Front Seat belt insecurely fixed to the vehicles structure (5.2.1a)

Nearside Front Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Nearside Rear Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Offside Front Headlamp aim beam image obviously incorrect (1.8.A.1b)

Offside Front Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Offside Rear Wheel nut(s) missing (4.2.A.1e)

Pass 20 Feb 2014 58,732 miles

Offside Rear Shock absorber has a light misting of oil (2.7.3)

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

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

o/s/f seat adjuster stiff

washer bottle insecure

Fail 4 Dec 2012 57,128 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

Oil leak

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both outer sills slightly corroded

fuel cap sealing washer starting to split

rear subframe has slight corrosion

slight play nearside rack end

various parts of body has slight corrosion

various parts of floor has slight corrosion

Pass 4 Dec 2012 57,128 miles

Oil leak

Rear registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

Rear wheel bearing has slight play (2.6.2)

both outer sills slightly corroded

fuel cap sealing washer starting to split

rear subframe has slight corrosion

slight play nearside rack end

various parts of body has slight corrosion

various parts of floor has slight corrosion

Pass 14 Sep 2011 56,844 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

front brake discs slightly corroding

Fail 6 Sep 2011 56,844 miles

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

Offside Rear Trailing arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside outer track rod end joint cover split/missing

front brake discs slightly corroding

Pass 10 Feb 2009 55,445 miles

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

front suspension stiff

Fail 27 Jan 2009 55,445 miles

Nearside Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Outer Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Front wheel bearing has slight play (2.5.A.3c)

Offside Front Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

front suspension stiff

Pass 29 Jan 2008 53,782 miles
Fail 22 Jan 2008 53,782 miles

Nearside Front Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

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

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

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

Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 2 Feb 2007 51,975 miles

Nearside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Front Direction indicator slightly discoloured (1.4.A.2f)

Offside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin bearing (2.4.G.2)

Fail 20 Sep 2006 51,946 miles

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

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

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Rear Radius arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered excessive (2.4.A.3)

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

R357 SOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini in Green with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 24 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 50%.

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 R357 SOJ, 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 R357 SOJ?

You can check the full history of R357 SOJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R357 SOJ registered?

R357 SOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 11 November 1997.

Is R357 SOJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R357 SOJ shows 24 tests with a 50% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R357 SOJ 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 R357 SOJ. 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.