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Pass Your MOT

1972 Rover 3500s MOT Pass Rate

Pass rate for 3500s models manufactured in 1972, based on 47 real MOT test results.

70.2%
Pass Rate
29.8%
Fail Rate
47
Total Tests
53,148
Avg Mileage

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

1972 Rover 3500s MOT Analysis

The 1972 Rover 3500s has an MOT pass rate of 70.2% based on 47 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 53,148 miles on the odometer. With a 29.8% failure rate, the 1972 3500s is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.

The leading cause of MOT failure for the 1972 Rover 3500s is Brakes, responsible for 4.3% of failures. 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 range from £150–400. Body, chassis, structure is the second most common issue at 2.1%.

⚠ Based on limited data (47 tests)

Top failures specific to 1972 models only. The overall 3500s page may show different rankings.

What Fails Most

What Fails on This Car?

Click a category to see specific failure items.

View as table
MOT failure categories ranked by failure rate
RankFailure CategoryRate (%)Count
1Brakes4.3%2
2Body, Chassis, Structure2.1%1

Failures per 10,000 Miles

avg. 53,148 mi

For 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.

Brakes0.80% per 10K miBody & Structure0.40% per 10K mi
View as table
Mileage-normalised failure rates by category
CategoryRate / 10K miRaw %Count
Brakes0.804.3%2
Body & Structure0.402.1%1

Mileage Statistics

53,148
Mean
85,968
Median
17,673
25th Percentile
92,178
75th Percentile
5.61% failures per 10K miles

Mileage-adjusted failure rate — accounts for how much this model year is typically driven.

About This Data

The 1972 Rover 3500s has an MOT pass rate of 70.2% based on 47 tests — above the UK average for UK vehicles. Cars of this vintage present for MOT with an average of 53,148 miles on the odometer. With a 29.8% failure rate, the 1972 3500s is rated as "Very Good" for MOT reliability.

If you own or are considering buying a 1972 Rover 3500s, you can expect reliable MOT performance overall. Before your MOT, pay particular attention to brakes: 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). At 53,148 average miles, these vehicles are in the mid-range where component wear starts to become a factor.

Brakes — 4.3% of failures

Brakes issues account for 4.3% of MOT failures on 1972 Rover 3500s models. 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).

Body, chassis, structure — 2.1% of failures

Body, chassis, structure issues account for 2.1% of MOT failures on 1972 Rover 3500s models. Body and structure failures include excessive corrosion, sharp edges, loose panels, and damage to the vehicle frame. Rust is the primary concern, especially on older vehicles or those exposed to road salt. Typical repair costs: £100–500+. Pre-MOT check: Inspect sills, wheel arches, door bottoms, and the chassis for rust. Surface rust is acceptable but structural corrosion or holes will fail. Check that all doors, bonnet, and boot close securely.

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

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