Small car · 1998–2007 cars
Rover 25 reliability
The Rover 25 fails 39.7% of first MOT tests, 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 13,742 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Rover 25 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 39.7%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 8% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 13,742
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- –
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Rover 25 ages
Each point is the share of Rover 25s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Rover 25 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 39.1% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 37.7% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 40.5% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 39% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 41.2% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 39.1% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 39.8% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 40.2% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 39.5% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Rover 25 years
2005 cars come out best and 2001 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 239 | 45.6% | 33% more fails | 54,836 |
| 2005 25 | 1,570 | 38.5% | 4% more fails | 63,423 |
| 2004 25 | 2,322 | 40.7% | 9% more fails | 62,732 |
| 2003 25 | 2,845 | 39.2% | 5% more fails | 62,591 |
| 2002 25 | 2,495 | 38.7% | 5% more fails | 61,722 |
| 2001 25 | 2,568 | 40.8% | 13% more fails | 61,605 |
| 2000 25 | 1,626 | 38.9% | 11% more fails | 61,403 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Rover 25
Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 104% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics17%2% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure14.7%104% above avg
- Brakes9.7%8% below avg
- Suspension7.2%41% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.5%7% below avg
- Tyres5.6%8% above avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks5.5%0% above avg
- Seat belts and airbags3.7%57% above avg
- Steering2.7%2% above avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure 8.08% of tests
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 3.92% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 3.71% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Stop lamp not working 3.66% of tests
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 5
Position lamp not working 3.31% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 6
Exhaust has major gas leak 2.98% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
- 7
Seat belt anchor area weakened 1.83% of tests
Corrosion near a seat belt anchor can weaken the body and make the belt fail, so expert repair is needed.
- 8
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.75% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Rover 25's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking12.84%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit10.49%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy8.26%
- Engine oil leak, not excessive8.22%
- Exhaust has minor gas leak5.76%
- Suspension mounting area showing corrosion5.58%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Rover 25
- 1
CV joint boot split or insecure
A split CV boot lets dirt in and grease out, so the joint wears and may need full replacement.
- 2
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 3
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 4
Stop lamp not working
A failed stop lamp means drivers behind cannot see when you brake, a safety risk that must be fixed.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol92.9%
- Diesel7%
- Hybrid0%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Blue, Silver, Red, Green, Gold
Average engine size: 1.5 litres.
Compare
How the Rover 25 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Fit | 11.6% | 59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover Mini | 29.1% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 25 | 39.7% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Qubo | 34.8% | 20% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 106 | 44.8% | 20% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Saxo | 46.3% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Grand Modus | 47.8% | 33% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Rover models.
Questions
Rover 25 questions, answered
Is the Rover 25 reliable?
On MOT results, the Rover 25 is below average: it fails 39.7% of first MOT tests, 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 18 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a Rover 25 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Rover 25 are cv joint boot split or insecure (8.08% of tests), suspension mounting area seriously corroded (3.92% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (3.71% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 17% of its tests.
Which Rover 25 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2005 cars do best (4% more MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2001 cars do worst (13% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Rover 25 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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