1971 Rover 3500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age

55 years

Current Age

97.4%

Latest Pass Rate

2,794

Total Tests (All Years)

59,815 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 3500

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1971 Rover 3500 as it ages.

38 yrs69.4%

→ ↑6.2%

39 yrs75.6%

→ ↓4.0%

40 yrs71.6%

→ ↑1.0%

41 yrs72.6%

→ ↓0.6%

42 yrs72.0%

→ ↓1.1%

43 yrs70.9%

→ ↑5.7%

44 yrs76.6%

→ ↓1.8%

45 yrs74.8%

→ ↑1.6%

46 yrs76.4%

→ ↑5.3%

47 yrs81.7%

→ ↑2.5%

48 yrs84.2%

→ ↓1.9%

49 yrs82.3%

→ ↓2.8%

50 yrs79.5%

→ ↑17.9%

53 yrs97.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
38 yrs	69.4%	278
39 yrs	75.6%	266
40 yrs	71.6%	299
41 yrs	72.6%	259
42 yrs	72.0%	268
43 yrs	70.9%	282
44 yrs	76.6%	286
45 yrs	74.8%	250
46 yrs	76.4%	246
47 yrs	81.7%	109
48 yrs	84.2%	95
49 yrs	82.3%	79
50 yrs	79.5%	39
53 yrs	97.4%	38

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1971 Rover 3500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (53 yrs)	97.4%	38
2021 (50 yrs)	79.5%	39
2020 (49 yrs)	82.3%	79
2019 (48 yrs)	84.2%	95
2018 (47 yrs)	81.7%	109
2017 (46 yrs)	76.4%	246
2016 (45 yrs)	74.8%	250
2015 (44 yrs)	76.6%	286
2014 (43 yrs)	70.9%	282
2013 (42 yrs)	72%	268
2012 (41 yrs)	72.6%	259
2011 (40 yrs)	71.6%	299
2010 (39 yrs)	75.6%	266
2009 (38 yrs)	69.4%	278

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

69.4%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 278Avg Mileage 55,319Top Failure Brakes — 16.9%

2010

75.6%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 266Avg Mileage 54,778Top Failure Brakes — 13.9%

2011

71.6%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 299Avg Mileage 56,989Top Failure Brakes — 16.1%

2012

72.6%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 259Avg Mileage 54,212Top Failure Brakes — 15.1%

2013

72.0%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 268Avg Mileage 54,681Top Failure Brakes — 41.4%

2014

70.9%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 282Avg Mileage 55,055Top Failure Brakes — 52.5%

2015

76.6%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 286Avg Mileage 55,079Top Failure Brakes — 44.4%

2016

74.8%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 250Avg Mileage 54,821Top Failure Brakes — 35.6%

2017

76.4%

Age (yrs) 46Tests 246Avg Mileage 54,275Top Failure Brakes — 38.6%

2018

81.7%

Age (yrs) 47Tests 109Avg Mileage 53,175Top Failure Brakes — 28.4%

2019

84.2%

Age (yrs) 48Tests 95Avg Mileage 53,125Top Failure Brakes — 21.1%

2020

82.3%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 79Avg Mileage 53,012Top Failure Brakes — 12.7%

2021

79.5%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 39Avg Mileage 53,942Top Failure Brakes — 23.1%

2024

97.4%

Age (yrs) 53Tests 38Avg Mileage 59,815Top Failure Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 10.5%

MOT results for 1971 Rover 3500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	38	69.4%	278	55,319	Brakes — 16.9%
2010	39	75.6%	266	54,778	Brakes — 13.9%
2011	40	71.6%	299	56,989	Brakes — 16.1%
2012	41	72.6%	259	54,212	Brakes — 15.1%
2013	42	72.0%	268	54,681	Brakes — 41.4%
2014	43	70.9%	282	55,055	Brakes — 52.5%
2015	44	76.6%	286	55,079	Brakes — 44.4%
2016	45	74.8%	250	54,821	Brakes — 35.6%
2017	46	76.4%	246	54,275	Brakes — 38.6%
2018	47	81.7%	109	53,175	Brakes — 28.4%
2019	48	84.2%	95	53,125	Brakes — 21.1%
2020	49	82.3%	79	53,012	Brakes — 12.7%
2021	50	79.5%	39	53,942	Brakes — 23.1%
2024	53	97.4%	38	59,815	Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment — 10.5%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1971 Rover 3500, with age trends.

Brakes

26.1%

↓ Decreases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

19.6%

— Consistent

Suspension

18.8%

— Consistent

Noise, emissions and leaks

12.8%

↑ Increases with age

Body, chassis, structure

10.2%

↑ Increases with age

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Brakes	16.9% (38 yrs)	5.3% (53 yrs)	-11.6%	🟢 ↓

Other Manufacture Years

1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1986

← Back to Rover 3500 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Rover 3500 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Rover 3500 cars manufactured in 1971 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 2,794 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.