Rover 45 Spirit MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 56 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 48.2%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Rover 45 Spirit MOT Reliability Overview
The Rover 45 Spirit is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 56 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 51.8% and a failure rate of 48.2%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Rover 45 Spirit earns a "Poor" reliability rating. The average Rover 45 Spirit presents for MOT with approximately 62,183 miles on the clock. The 2002 manufacture year performs best with a 52.3% pass rate.
The most common MOT failure for the Rover 45 Spirit is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment, affecting 26.8% of all tests. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. The second most common issue is Tyres at 23.2%. Suspension rounds out the top three at 21.4%. 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 | Lamps, Reflectors And Electrical Equipment | 46.4% | 26 |
| 2 | Suspension | 37.5% | 21 |
| 3 | Tyres | 32.1% | 18 |
| 4 | Brakes | 25.0% | 14 |
| 5 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 23.2% | 13 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 17.9% | 10 |
| 7 | Items Not Tested | 3.6% | 2 |
| 8 | Body, Structure And General Items | 1.8% | 1 |
| 9 | Steering | 1.8% | 1 |
| 10 | Towbars | 1.8% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 62,183 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamps & Electrical | 7.47 | 46.4% | 26 |
| Suspension | 6.03 | 37.5% | 21 |
| Tyres | 5.17 | 32.1% | 18 |
| Brakes | 4.02 | 25.0% | 14 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 3.73 | 23.2% | 13 |
| Visibility | 2.87 | 17.9% | 10 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.57 | 3.6% | 2 |
| Body & Structure | 0.29 | 1.8% | 1 |
| Steering | 0.29 | 1.8% | 1 |
| Towbars | 0.29 | 1.8% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Rover 45 Spirit has 62,183 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 45 Spirit has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 7.75% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is worse than average.
About Rover 45 Spirit MOT Data
The Rover 45 Spirit is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 56 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 1 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 51.8% and a failure rate of 48.2%, which is below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Rover 45 Spirit owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment and tyres 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 45 Spirit is likely to perform.
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 26.8% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 26.8% of MOT failures on the Rover 45 Spirit. Lighting failures cover all external lights: headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, fog lights, and reflectors. A single blown bulb will cause an MOT fail. This is one of the most preventable failure categories. Typical repair costs: £5–50. Pre-MOT check: Walk around the car and check every light — headlights (dipped and main beam), side lights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, hazard lights, reverse light, rear fog light, and number plate lights. Replace any blown bulbs before the test.
Tyres — 23.2% of failures
Tyres issues account for 23.2% of MOT failures on the Rover 45 Spirit. Tyre failures include tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, cuts, bulges, exposed cords, and incorrect tyre pressure. Tyres are one of the most common and easiest-to-prevent MOT failures. Typical repair costs: £50–200 per tyre. Pre-MOT check: Check tread depth with a 20p coin — if the outer band is visible, the tyre is too worn. Look for bulges, cuts, or embedded objects. Ensure all tyres match the recommended size and load rating.
Suspension — 21.4% of failures
Suspension issues account for 21.4% of MOT failures on the Rover 45 Spirit. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover 45 Spirit?
Based on 56 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Rover 45 Spirit has an overall pass rate of 51.8% (48.2% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Rover 45 Spirit?
The top 3 reasons a Rover 45 Spirit fails its MOT are: 1. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (26.8%), 2. Tyres (23.2%), 3. Suspension (21.4%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Rover 45 Spirit reliable?
With a 48.2% MOT failure rate, the 45 Spirit is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Rover 45 Spirit?
Based on failure data, focus on: Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (26.8%); Tyres (23.2%); Suspension (21.4%). 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.