Large family car · 1998–2012 cars
Rover 75 reliability
The Rover 75 fails 42.5% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage, based on 31,095 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Rover 75 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 42.5%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 1% more
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 31,095
- 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 75 ages
Each point is the share of Rover 75s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Rover 75 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | 38.1% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 43.7% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 43.8% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 43.6% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 43.9% | 42.8% |
| 21 | 39.6% | 41.4% |
| 22 | 40.3% | 40.6% |
| 23 | 38.5% | 38.9% |
| 24 | 39.5% | 37.1% |
By year
The best and worst Rover 75 years
2002 cars come out best and 2004 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 712 | 40.7% | 3% fewer fails | 92,688 |
| 2005 75 | 4,133 | 41.8% | 1% fewer fails | 97,008 |
| 2004 75 | 8,601 | 45% | 5% more fails | 103,212 |
| 2003 75 | 7,015 | 43% | 1% more fails | 100,020 |
| 2002 75 | 5,397 | 41.5% | 2% fewer fails | 105,814 |
| 2001 75 | 2,905 | 40.3% | 1% fewer fails | 93,154 |
| 2000 75 | 1,537 | 38.8% | 2% more fails | 85,444 |
| 1999 | 693 | 39.8% | 9% more fails | 85,979 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Rover 75
Its weak spot is seat belts and airbags: 97% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Suspension23.8%48% above avg
- Lights and electrics16.5%20% below avg
- Brakes13.7%3% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure7.7%15% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors6.3%16% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags6%97% above avg
- Tyres5.3%16% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks4.3%39% below avg
- Steering3.9%2% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded 6.11% of tests
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 4.48% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 4.03% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 3.96% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 5
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 3.7% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
- 6
Rigid brake pipe excessively corroded 3.33% of tests
Badly corroded brake pipes can leak or fail, which can cause a loss of braking, so repair is urgent.
- 7
Coil spring fractured or broken 3.24% of tests
A broken coil spring can leave the car sitting low or unstable, so it must be replaced before driving.
- 8
Suspension ball joint excessively worn 2.99% of tests
A worn ball joint can fail and cause loss of steering control, so it must be replaced promptly.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Rover 75's MOT certificate most often.
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy20.23%
- Tyre worn close to legal limit14.08%
- Brake disc pitted or scored10.97%
- Suspension arm showing corrosion9.29%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.18%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear7.56%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Rover 75
- 1
Suspension mounting area seriously corroded
Corrosion near suspension mountings can seriously weaken the body structure, so an expert inspection is needed.
- 2
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 4
Parking brake efficiency below minimum
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 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
- Diesel59.5%
- Petrol40.4%
- LPG0.1%
- Other0%
- Electric0%
Most common colours
Blue, Silver, Gold, Green, Red
Average engine size: 2.0 litres.
Compare
How the Rover 75 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Arteon | 11.9% | 25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Saab 9-5 | 35.9% | 17% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Subaru Outback | 25.8% | 16% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Kia Optima | 19.8% | 9% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 75 | 42.5% | about average for its age |
| Peugeot 407 | 46.1% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Laguna | 45.8% | 10% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every large family car ranked in the large family car reliability index, or all Rover models.
Questions
Rover 75 questions, answered
Is the Rover 75 reliable?
On MOT results, the Rover 75 is about average: it fails 42.5% of first MOT tests, about average for its age and mileage. It ranks 22 of 29 large family car models in our index.
What fails most on a Rover 75 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Rover 75 are suspension mounting area seriously corroded (6.11% of tests), headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect (4.48% of tests), suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (4.03% of tests). By area, suspension fails 23.8% of its tests.
Which Rover 75 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2002 cars do best (about average for its age) and 2004 cars do worst (5% more MOT fails than the average car its age).
How do I check a Rover 75 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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