1972 Rover 3500 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1972 perform at MOT as they age

54 years

Current Age

86.4%

Latest Pass Rate

529

Total Tests (All Years)

52,142 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1972 Rover 3500 as it ages.

37 yrs70.6%

→ ↑6.5%

38 yrs77.1%

→ ↑0.7%

39 yrs77.8%

→ ↓16.3%

40 yrs61.5%

→ ↑6.9%

41 yrs68.4%

→ ↑10.5%

42 yrs78.9%

→ ↑1.7%

43 yrs80.6%

→ ↓7.1%

44 yrs73.5%

→ ↑3.4%

45 yrs76.9%

→ ↑4.4%

49 yrs81.3%

→ ↓0.2%

50 yrs81.1%

→ ↑2.6%

51 yrs83.7%

→ ↑2.7%

52 yrs86.4%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
37 yrs	70.6%	34
38 yrs	77.1%	35
39 yrs	77.8%	36
40 yrs	61.5%	39
41 yrs	68.4%	38
42 yrs	78.9%	38
43 yrs	80.6%	36
44 yrs	73.5%	49
45 yrs	76.9%	52
49 yrs	81.3%	48
50 yrs	81.1%	37
51 yrs	83.7%	43
52 yrs	86.4%	44

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1972 Rover 3500 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (52 yrs)	86.4%	44
2023 (51 yrs)	83.7%	43
2022 (50 yrs)	81.1%	37
2021 (49 yrs)	81.3%	48
2017 (45 yrs)	76.9%	52
2016 (44 yrs)	73.5%	49
2015 (43 yrs)	80.6%	36
2014 (42 yrs)	78.9%	38
2013 (41 yrs)	68.4%	38
2012 (40 yrs)	61.5%	39
2011 (39 yrs)	77.8%	36
2010 (38 yrs)	77.1%	35
2009 (37 yrs)	70.6%	34

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009

70.6%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 34Avg Mileage 52,593Top Failure Brakes — 17.6%

2010

77.1%

Age (yrs) 38Tests 35Avg Mileage 45,784Top Failure Brakes — 17.1%

2011

77.8%

Age (yrs) 39Tests 36Avg Mileage 57,540Top Failure Brakes — 13.9%

2012High Fail Rate

61.5%

Age (yrs) 40Tests 39Avg Mileage 53,719Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%

2013

68.4%

Age (yrs) 41Tests 38Avg Mileage 49,465Top Failure Brakes — 44.7%

2014

78.9%

Age (yrs) 42Tests 38Avg Mileage 46,864Top Failure Brakes — 57.9%

2015

80.6%

Age (yrs) 43Tests 36Avg Mileage 46,056Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%

2016

73.5%

Age (yrs) 44Tests 49Avg Mileage 52,016Top Failure Brakes — 73.5%

2017

76.9%

Age (yrs) 45Tests 52Avg Mileage 49,232Top Failure Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.2%

2021

81.3%

Age (yrs) 49Tests 48Avg Mileage 50,939Top Failure Suspension — 27.1%

2022

81.1%

Age (yrs) 50Tests 37Avg Mileage 48,310Top Failure Brakes — 35.1%

2023

83.7%

Age (yrs) 51Tests 43Avg Mileage 48,017Top Failure Suspension — 18.6%

2024

86.4%

Age (yrs) 52Tests 44Avg Mileage 52,142Top Failure Brakes — 27.3%

MOT results for 1972 Rover 3500 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	37	70.6%	34	52,593	Brakes — 17.6%
2010	38	77.1%	35	45,784	Brakes — 17.1%
2011	39	77.8%	36	57,540	Brakes — 13.9%
2012	40	61.5%	39	53,719	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 23.1%
2013	41	68.4%	38	49,465	Brakes — 44.7%
2014	42	78.9%	38	46,864	Brakes — 57.9%
2015	43	80.6%	36	46,056	Brakes — 33.3%
2016	44	73.5%	49	52,016	Brakes — 73.5%
2017	45	76.9%	52	49,232	Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 19.2%
2021	49	81.3%	48	50,939	Suspension — 27.1%
2022	50	81.1%	37	48,310	Brakes — 35.1%
2023	51	83.7%	43	48,017	Suspension — 18.6%
2024	52	86.4%	44	52,142	Brakes — 27.3%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1972 Rover 3500, with age trends.

Brakes

29.6%

↑ Increases with age

Tyres

19.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

18.5%

— Consistent

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

17.1%

↑ Increases with age

Suspension

17.1%

↑ 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
Suspension	11.8% (37 yrs)	22.7% (52 yrs)	+10.9%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	17.6% (37 yrs)	27.3% (52 yrs)	+9.7%	🔴 ↑

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 1972 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 529 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.