1971 Rover 3.5 Litre Auto — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

88.6%

Latest Pass Rate

832

Total Tests (All Years)

49,168 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 3.5 Litre Auto

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre Auto as it ages.

38 yrs76.8%

→ ↑2.7%

39 yrs79.5%

→ ↓3.6%

40 yrs75.9%

→ ↓0.9%

41 yrs75.0%

→ ↑1.3%

42 yrs76.3%

→ ↓4.3%

43 yrs72.0%

→ ↑12.0%

44 yrs84.0%

→ ↓6.2%

45 yrs77.8%

→ ↑7.2%

46 yrs85.0%

→ ↑9.7%

47 yrs94.7%

→ ↓6.1%

48 yrs88.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	76.8%	95
39 yrs	79.5%	88
40 yrs	75.9%	83
41 yrs	75.0%	72
42 yrs	76.3%	97
43 yrs	72.0%	82
44 yrs	84.0%	81
45 yrs	77.8%	81
46 yrs	85.0%	80
47 yrs	94.7%	38
48 yrs	88.6%	35

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre Auto pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2019 (48 yrs)	88.6%	35
2018 (47 yrs)	94.7%	38
2017 (46 yrs)	85%	80
2016 (45 yrs)	77.8%	81
2015 (44 yrs)	84%	81
2014 (43 yrs)	72%	82
2013 (42 yrs)	76.3%	97
2012 (41 yrs)	75%	72
2011 (40 yrs)	75.9%	83
2010 (39 yrs)	79.5%	88
2009 (38 yrs)	76.8%	95

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

76.8%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 95Avg Mileage 57,159Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.7%

2010

79.5%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 88Avg Mileage 63,364Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%

2011

75.9%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 83Avg Mileage 55,339Top Failure Brakes — 10.8%

2012

75.0%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 72Avg Mileage 55,721Top Failure Brakes — 15.3%

2013

76.3%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 97Avg Mileage 56,997Top Failure Brakes — 42.3%

2014

72.0%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 82Avg Mileage 54,124Top Failure Brakes — 40.2%

2015

84.0%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 81Avg Mileage 54,083Top Failure Brakes — 35.8%

2016

77.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 81Avg Mileage 54,418Top Failure Brakes — 38.3%

2017

85.0%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 80Avg Mileage 54,414Top Failure Brakes — 21.3%

2018

94.7%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 38Avg Mileage 54,280Top Failure Tyres — 10.5%

2019

88.6%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 35Avg Mileage 49,168Top Failure Brakes — 20.0%

MOT results for 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre Auto by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	76.8%	95	57,159	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.7%
2010	39	79.5%	88	63,364	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 13.6%
2011	40	75.9%	83	55,339	Brakes — 10.8%
2012	41	75.0%	72	55,721	Brakes — 15.3%
2013	42	76.3%	97	56,997	Brakes — 42.3%
2014	43	72.0%	82	54,124	Brakes — 40.2%
2015	44	84.0%	81	54,083	Brakes — 35.8%
2016	45	77.8%	81	54,418	Brakes — 38.3%
2017	46	85.0%	80	54,414	Brakes — 21.3%
2018	47	94.7%	38	54,280	Tyres — 10.5%
2019	48	88.6%	35	49,168	Brakes — 20.0%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Rover 3.5 Litre Auto, with age trends.

Brakes

22.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

16.5%

↑ Increases with age

Steering

12.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

11.9%

— Consistent

Tyres

10.5%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	12.6% (38 yrs)	20.0% (48 yrs)	+7.4%	🔴 ↑
Suspension	7.4% (38 yrs)	5.7% (48 yrs)	-1.7%	⚪ —

Other Manufacture Years

1971

← Back to Rover 3.5 Litre Auto overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Rover 3.5 Litre Auto page →

About This Data

This page shows how Rover 3.5 Litre Auto cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2019, covering 832 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.