Rover 25
Registered from 1999 to 2006.
About this model
The Rover 200 Series, and later the Rover 25, are a series of small family cars that were produced at the Longbridge factory by former British manufacturer Rover from 1984 until 2005 over four distinct generations.
From the Wikipedia article Rover 200 / 25, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2003 1.4 petrol. 203 of 802 tests failed, 25%.
Better than 68% of 2003 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 639 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body and structure | 47% | 95 |
| Lights and electrics | 39% | 79 |
| Brakes | 26% | 53 |
| Suspension | 20% | 41 |
| Tyres and wheels | 19% | 39 |
| Visibility | 15% | 30 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- 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
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- A tyre seriously damaged
- 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
- Body and structure: failed more often than 95% of 2003 cars — 47% of its 203 failed tests, where an ordinary 2003 car has 24%.
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 — 26% of its failures
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Suspension — 20% 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
- Tyres and wheels — 19% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Lights and electrics — 39% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 47% 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
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Visibility — 15% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 21% of its inspections, against the 29% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 25% | 17% | 158 | |
| 40–60k miles | 26% | 22% | 232 | |
| 60–80k miles | 29% | 25% | 175 | |
| 80–100k miles | 22% | 28% | 108 | |
| 100–120k miles | 21% | 29% | 70 |
743 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.