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R696 SOJ

1997 Rover Mini

Multi-colour Petrol 1275cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires15 Jan 2027
Tests14 (10 pass, 4 fail)
Pass rate71.4%

Mileage

78,199 mi
Last recorded78,199 miles
Recorded on16 Jan 2026
Typical for 1997 Rover Mini51,557 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR696 SOJ
MakeRover
ModelMini
Year1997
ColourMulti-colour
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,275cc

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MOT History

10 pass 4 fail
Pass 16 Jan 2026 78,199 miles

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Fail 12 Jan 2026 78,199 miles

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

Nearside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))

Pass 11 Dec 2024 76,023 miles
Pass 22 Dec 2023 75,488 miles
Pass 13 Jan 2023 73,738 miles
Pass 15 Jan 2022 73,185 miles
Pass 16 Jan 2021 71,908 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2017 71,837 miles

Front movement in subframe bushes

Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()

Rear slight play in wheel bearings

corrosion forming on underside of vehicle

exhaust rusty

fuel lines rusty

Fail 23 Sep 2016 71,835 miles

Battery insecure (1.9.1)

Front Sub-frame insecure both mounts missing (2.4.G.1)

Hazard warning lamps inoperative all (1.4.B.1b)

Nearside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Rear Radius arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Track rod end loose (2.2.B.1d)

Rear Sub-frame attachment bracket/mounting insecure offside rear mount (2.4.G.1)

Front subframe bushes worn

Rear slight play in wheel bearings

fuel lines rusty

play in steering rack

slight corrosion forming on underside of vehicle

Pass 12 Aug 2014 71,529 miles
Pass 26 Sep 2007 68,321 miles

corrosion to both sill panels and front panel

Fail 24 Sep 2007 68,312 miles

Offside Rear fog lamp not working (1.3.2b)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

corrosion to both sill panels and front panel

Pass 6 Oct 2006 64,303 miles
Fail 27 Sep 2006 64,290 miles

Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (3.5.1g)

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

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

Nearside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

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

Offside Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (8.2.3)

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

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

metal pipes to fuel filter corroded †corrosion to rear subframe †corrosion to both outer sills †n /s inner drive shaft gaiter leaking grease

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

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R696 SOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini in Multi-colour with a 1,275cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 14 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 71.4%.

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 performed better than the average for its year.

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 R696 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 R696 SOJ?

You can check the full history of R696 SOJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R696 SOJ registered?

R696 SOJ is a 1997 Rover Mini, first registered on 31 December 1997.

Is R696 SOJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R696 SOJ shows 14 tests with a 71.4% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R696 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 R696 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.