Rover 45 MOT pass rate: 64.8% (1,509 tests, 2025)

The Rover 45 passed 64.8% of its 1,509 MOT tests in 2025 — 12.7 points below the UK average of 77.5%. The median tested example was 22 years old with 74,079 miles on the clock.

64.8%Pass rate (2025)

1,509MOT tests analysed

74,079 miMedian mileage at test

22 yrsMedian age at test

How the 45 compares

Rover 45

64.8%

UK average (all Class 4 vehicles)

77.5% across 33.1 million tests

Rover average (all models)

71.5%

What fails most on the Rover 45

Across failed and rectified tests in 2025, these vehicle systems produced the most defects on the 45:

#	System	Defects recorded	Share
1	Suspension	378	23.4%
2	Brakes	323	20.0%
3	Body, chassis, structure	314	19.5%
4	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment	222	13.8%
5	Tyres	122	7.6%
6	Noise, emissions and leaks	108	6.7%

Pre-MOT checklist for 45 owners

Based on the failure profile above, ten minutes with a torch before your test removes the most likely fail items:

Bounce each corner and listen for clonks over speed bumps — suspension is this model’s (and the UK’s) top failure system
Feel for a spongy pedal or pulling to one side; check pad wear through the wheel spokes if visible
Look underneath for corrosion around sills and subframes, especially on older cars
Walk round with all lights on: one blown bulb is the most avoidable fail there is
Check tread with the 20p test and inspect sidewalls for cracking — tyres close to the limit are the country’s most common advisory

Check the engine before the tester does

A stored fault code with the engine light on is an automatic Major defect. Scan and clear resolved faults before booking.

Topdon OBD2 scannersTopdon diagnostic scanners with full-system readouts
XTOOL diagnostic toolsXTOOL code readers for petrol and diesel cars
Autel UK testersAutel professional-grade diagnostic testers

Check a specific 45 before you buy

Pass rates describe the model; they can’t tell you about the one car you’re looking at. Run its plate through our free MOT history check to see its personal record of failures, advisories and mileage readings.

Other Rover models

MINI75.7% pass rate · 10,821 tests 7564.5% pass rate · 6,194 tests 2568.8% pass rate · 2,442 tests

FAQs

What is the MOT pass rate for a Rover 45?

In 2025, 64.8% of 1,509 first MOT tests on the Rover 45 were passes (UK average: 77.5%). Data: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

What does the 45 fail its MOT on most?

The biggest defect group is suspension (23.4% of its recorded defects), followed by brakes.

Is the Rover 45 reliable?

MOT pass rate is one lens on durability: at 64.8% it performs below the national average at a median age of 22 years and 74,079 miles. Always check the individual car's history too.

Source: DVSA Anonymised MOT tests and results, 2025 extract (Class 4 initial tests only; retests excluded). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Figures rounded to one decimal place.