Rover 100

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 1997 1.1 petrol. 21 of 80 tests failed, 26%.

Better than 48% of 1997 cars. The typical one fails 26%, across 225 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement
• The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
• Emissions levels exceed default limits
• Brakes imbalance across an axle such that the braking effort from any wheel is less than 70% of the maximum effort recorded from the other wheel on the same axle.
• Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits

Where it stands out against its peers

• Brakes: failed more often than 95% of 1997 cars — 62% of its 21 failed tests, where an ordinary 1997 car has 39%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• Brakes — 62% of its failures
  • Service brake efficiency below minimum requirement
• Suspension — 48% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Exhaust and emissions — 29% of its failures
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
• Lights and electrics — 43% of its failures
• Body and structure — 33% of its failures
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
• Seat belts and airbags — 19% of its failures