Rover 45
Registered from 2000 to 2006.
About this model
The Rover 400 Series, and later the Rover 45, are a series of small family cars that were produced by the British manufacturer Rover from 1990 to 2005. The cars were co-developed as part of Rover's collaboration with Honda. The first-generation 400 was based on the Honda Concerto, and the Mark II 400 was based on the Honda Domani/Civic.
From the Wikipedia article Rover 400 / 45, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2004 1.6 petrol. 68 of 248 tests failed, 27%.
Better than 52% of 2004 cars. The typical one fails 28%, across 750 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Body and structure | 49% | 33 |
| Suspension | 46% | 31 |
| Brakes | 29% | 20 |
| Lights and electrics | 25% | 17 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 16% | 11 |
| Tyres and wheels | 15% | 10 |
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
- A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
Where it stands out against its peers
- Body and structure: failed more often than 95% of 2004 cars — 49% of its 68 failed tests, where an ordinary 2004 car has 23%.
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.
- Suspension — 46% 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
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Brakes — 29% of its failures
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Exhaust and emissions — 16% of its failures
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Tyres and wheels — 15% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 25% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Body and structure — 49% 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
When it starts failing
At 80–100k miles this one fails 37% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–60k miles | 23% | 22% | 43 | |
| 60–80k miles | 16% | 25% | 62 | |
| 80–100k miles | 37% | 28% | 65 |
170 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 60k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.