Rover 214

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 1998 1.4 petrol. 51 of 173 tests failed, 29%.

Better than 23% of 1998 cars. The typical one fails 25%, across 269 models with enough tests behind them to say.

The defects inspectors cite

• 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
• 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 default limits
• Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
• Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
• Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

Where it stands out against its peers

• Visibility: failed more often than 92% of 1998 cars — 27% of its 51 failed tests, where an ordinary 1998 car has 11%.

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 — 41% of its failures
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
• Exhaust and emissions — 39% of its failures
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
• Suspension — 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
• Lights and electrics — 47% of its failures
  • Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
• Visibility — 27% of its failures
  • Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
• Body and structure — 24% 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