Rover 3500 Se Auto MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 88 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 35.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Rover 3500 Se Auto MOT Reliability Overview
The Rover 3500 Se Auto is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 88 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.8% and a failure rate of 35.2%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Rover 3500 Se Auto earns a "Average" reliability rating. The average Rover 3500 Se Auto presents for MOT with approximately 83,719 miles on the clock. The 1983 manufacture year performs best with a 66.7% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Rover 3500 Se Auto is Suspension, affecting 37.5% of all tests. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. The second most common issue is Brakes at 26.1%. Steering rounds out the top three at 20.5%. Together, these top 3 failure categories account for a significant portion of all MOT failures for this model.
Top failures across all manufacture years combined. Individual year pages may show different top failures.
What Fails Most
Pass Rate by Manufacture Year
* High Fail Rate badge indicates an MOT pass rate below 65% (failure rate above 35%).
What Fails on This Car?
Click a category to see specific failure items.
View as table
| Rank | Failure Category | Rate (%) | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suspension | 48.9% | 43 |
| 2 | Brakes | 34.1% | 30 |
| 3 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 23.9% | 21 |
| 4 | Steering | 20.5% | 18 |
| 5 | Driver's View Of The Road | 11.4% | 10 |
| 6 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 10.2% | 9 |
| 7 | Tyres | 10.2% | 9 |
| 8 | Body, Structure And General Items | 8.0% | 7 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 3.4% | 3 |
| 10 | Registration Plates And Vin | 2.3% | 2 |
| 11 | Non-component Advisories | 2.3% | 2 |
| 12 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 1.1% | 1 |
| 13 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 1.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 83,719 miFor every 10,000 miles driven, this shows what percentage of MOT tests fail for each category. This accounts for how far cars are actually driven, not just raw pass/fail counts.
View as table
| Category | Rate / 10K mi | Raw % | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 5.84 | 48.9% | 43 |
| Brakes | 4.07 | 34.1% | 30 |
| Lamps & Electrical | 2.85 | 23.9% | 21 |
| Steering | 2.44 | 20.5% | 18 |
| Visibility | 1.36 | 11.4% | 10 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 1.22 | 10.2% | 9 |
| Tyres | 1.22 | 10.2% | 9 |
| Body & Structure | 1.09 | 9.1% | 8 |
| Seat Belts | 0.41 | 3.4% | 3 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.27 | 2.3% | 2 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.27 | 2.3% | 2 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.14 | 1.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Rover 3500 Se Auto has 83,719 miles when tested for MOT.
📊 Mileage-Adjusted Failure Rate
How often this car fails MOT relative to how much it's driven — a fairer comparison than raw pass rate.
The Rover 3500 Se Auto has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.20% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Rover 3500 Se Auto MOT Data
The Rover 3500 Se Auto is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 88 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 64.8% and a failure rate of 35.2%, which is around the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Rover 3500 Se Auto owners, these results suggest average reliability — some preparation before MOT can improve pass chances. Focus your pre-MOT checks on suspension and brakes for the best chance of a first-time pass. Use our detailed year-by-year breakdown and failure analysis below to understand how your specific 3500 Se Auto is likely to perform.
Suspension — 37.5% of failures
Suspension issues account for 37.5% of MOT failures on the Rover 3500 Se Auto. Suspension failures typically involve worn bushes, leaking shock absorbers, broken coil springs, and damaged suspension arms. These affect ride quality, tyre wear, and road holding. Typical repair costs: £200–500. Pre-MOT check: Look for uneven tyre wear, listen for clunking over bumps, and check if the car pulls to one side. A bouncy ride suggests worn shock absorbers. Visually inspect coil springs for cracks.
Brakes — 26.1% of failures
Brakes issues account for 26.1% of MOT failures on the Rover 3500 Se Auto. Brake-related failures include worn brake pads, corroded brake discs, leaking brake lines, and faulty brake servos. These are safety-critical components — any brake deficiency will result in an MOT fail. Typical repair costs: £150–400. Pre-MOT check: Listen for squealing or grinding noises. Check brake pedal feel — if it feels spongy or goes to the floor, have the system inspected immediately. Look at brake pad thickness through the wheel spokes (minimum 3mm).
Steering — 20.5% of failures
Steering issues account for 20.5% of MOT failures on the Rover 3500 Se Auto. Steering failures include excessive play in the steering wheel, leaking power steering fluid, worn track rod ends, and damaged steering rack. These affect vehicle control and are closely related to suspension wear. Typical repair costs: £150–600. Pre-MOT check: Check for excessive steering wheel play (more than a few inches of free movement). Listen for whining from the power steering pump. Look for fluid leaks under the car near the front wheels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 3500 Se Auto?
Based on 88 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Rover 3500 Se Auto has an overall pass rate of 64.8% (35.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Rover 3500 Se Auto?
The top 3 reasons a Rover 3500 Se Auto fails its MOT are: 1. Suspension (37.5%), 2. Brakes (26.1%), 3. Steering (20.5%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Rover 3500 Se Auto reliable?
With a 35.2% MOT failure rate, the 3500 Se Auto is about average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Rover 3500 Se Auto?
Based on failure data, focus on: Suspension (37.5%); Brakes (26.1%); Steering (20.5%). These are the areas most likely to cause a fail. Also check all lights, tyres (minimum 1.6mm tread), and windscreen condition — these are quick wins that apply to all cars.
Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.