2003 Rover 25 MOT pass rate: 69.6% (1,962 tests)
Is the 2003 25 getting worse?
Pass rate of 2003-registered cars across recent test years:
| Test year | Pass rate | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68.2% +3.7 vs same-age |
|
| 2024 | 70.0% +5.2 vs same-age |
|
| 2025 | 71.5% +5.4 vs same-age |
The raw rate normally falls as cars age. The “vs same-age” figure compares this cohort with all UK cars registered in the same year, so normal ageing is not mistaken for a bad model year.
What fails on a 2003 25
| # | System | Defects recorded | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Body, chassis, structure | 408 | 24.5% |
| 2 | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 324 | 19.4% |
| 3 | Brakes | 249 | 14.9% |
| 4 | Suspension | 198 | 11.9% |
| 5 | Tyres | 124 | 7.4% |
| 6 | Visibility | 119 | 7.1% |
All 25 years compared
| Registration year | Tests | Pass rate | Vs same-age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,806 | 68.2% | +1.6 pts | 61,023 |
| 2002 | 1,756 | 69.5% | +3.9 pts | 61,229 |
| 2003 (this page) | 1,962 | 69.6% | +4.6 pts | 62,094 |
| 2004 | 1,690 | 68.2% | +3.9 pts | 63,410 |
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FAQs
Is a 2003 Rover 25 reliable?
2003-registered examples passed 69.6% of their MOT tests (1,962 tests, 2023–2025), +4.6 points versus all UK cars registered in the same year. At roughly 23 years old with a median 62,094 miles, condition now varies car by car — always check the individual MOT history.
What mileage is too high for a 2003 25?
The median tested example shows 62,094 miles. Anything far beyond that isn't automatically bad — a motorway-mile car with consistent service records often beats a low-mileage school-run car — but price accordingly and scrutinise the mileage trail for gaps or drops.
Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023–2025 extracts (96 million Class 4 initial tests; retests excluded). Only vehicles old enough for a routine first MOT are included. Age-adjusted figures compare the model-year cohort with all vehicles of the same registration year tested in the same calendar year. Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.