1997 Rover 820 — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age

29 years

Current Age

65.6%

Latest Pass Rate

3,785

Total Tests (All Years)

90,763 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Best vintage for 820

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1997 Rover 820 as it ages.

12 yrs46.8%

→ ↓4.1%

13 yrs42.7%

→ ↑3.6%

14 yrs46.3%

→ ↑4.1%

15 yrs50.4%

→ ↓2.8%

16 yrs47.6%

→ ↓2.5%

17 yrs45.1%

→ ↑8.5%

18 yrs53.6%

→ ↑3.9%

19 yrs57.5%

→ ↑0.8%

20 yrs58.3%

→ ↓14.1%

21 yrs44.2%

→ ↑10.1%

22 yrs54.3%

→ ↑0.7%

23 yrs55.0%

→ ↑5.9%

24 yrs60.9%

→ ↑4.9%

25 yrs65.8%

→ ↓8.7%

26 yrs57.1%

→ ↑8.5%

27 yrs65.6%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
12 yrs	46.8%	1,080
13 yrs	42.7%	783
14 yrs	46.3%	516
15 yrs	50.4%	339
16 yrs	47.6%	231
17 yrs	45.1%	164
18 yrs	53.6%	140
19 yrs	57.5%	120
20 yrs	58.3%	96
21 yrs	44.2%	43
22 yrs	54.3%	46
23 yrs	55.0%	40
24 yrs	60.9%	46
25 yrs	65.8%	38
26 yrs	57.1%	42
27 yrs	65.6%	61

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1997 Rover 820 pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (27 yrs)	65.6%	61
2023 (26 yrs)	57.1%	42
2022 (25 yrs)	65.8%	38
2021 (24 yrs)	60.9%	46
2020 (23 yrs)	55%	40
2019 (22 yrs)	54.3%	46
2018 (21 yrs)	44.2%	43
2017 (20 yrs)	58.3%	96
2016 (19 yrs)	57.5%	120
2015 (18 yrs)	53.6%	140
2014 (17 yrs)	45.1%	164
2013 (16 yrs)	47.6%	231
2012 (15 yrs)	50.4%	339
2011 (14 yrs)	46.3%	516
2010 (13 yrs)	42.7%	783
2009 (12 yrs)	46.8%	1,080

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

46.8%

Age (yrs) 12Tests 1,080Avg Mileage 96,866Top Failure Brakes — 35.9%

2010High Fail Rate

42.7%

Age (yrs) 13Tests 783Avg Mileage 97,894Top Failure Brakes — 39.6%

2011High Fail Rate

46.3%

Age (yrs) 14Tests 516Avg Mileage 99,063Top Failure Suspension — 35.7%

2012High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 15Tests 339Avg Mileage 98,970Top Failure Brakes — 33.3%

2013High Fail Rate

47.6%

Age (yrs) 16Tests 231Avg Mileage 99,008Top Failure Brakes — 82.7%

2014High Fail Rate

45.1%

Age (yrs) 17Tests 164Avg Mileage 100,884Top Failure Brakes — 89.0%

2015High Fail Rate

53.6%

Age (yrs) 18Tests 140Avg Mileage 100,053Top Failure Brakes — 67.9%

2016High Fail Rate

57.5%

Age (yrs) 19Tests 120Avg Mileage 104,664Top Failure Brakes — 57.5%

2017High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 20Tests 96Avg Mileage 101,648Top Failure Brakes — 85.4%

2018High Fail Rate

44.2%

Age (yrs) 21Tests 43Avg Mileage 101,912Top Failure Suspension — 76.7%

2019High Fail Rate

54.3%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 46Avg Mileage 96,842Top Failure Suspension — 93.5%

2020High Fail Rate

55.0%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 40Avg Mileage 95,305Top Failure Suspension — 57.5%

2021High Fail Rate

60.9%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 46Avg Mileage 96,445Top Failure Suspension — 73.9%

2022

65.8%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 38Avg Mileage 98,976Top Failure Suspension — 81.6%

2023High Fail Rate

57.1%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 42Avg Mileage 103,320Top Failure Suspension — 85.7%

2024

65.6%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 61Avg Mileage 90,763Top Failure Suspension — 36.1%

MOT results for 1997 Rover 820 by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	12	46.8%	1,080	96,866	Brakes — 35.9%
2010	13	42.7%	783	97,894	Brakes — 39.6%
2011	14	46.3%	516	99,063	Suspension — 35.7%
2012	15	50.4%	339	98,970	Brakes — 33.3%
2013	16	47.6%	231	99,008	Brakes — 82.7%
2014	17	45.1%	164	100,884	Brakes — 89.0%
2015	18	53.6%	140	100,053	Brakes — 67.9%
2016	19	57.5%	120	104,664	Brakes — 57.5%
2017	20	58.3%	96	101,648	Brakes — 85.4%
2018	21	44.2%	43	101,912	Suspension — 76.7%
2019	22	54.3%	46	96,842	Suspension — 93.5%
2020	23	55.0%	40	95,305	Suspension — 57.5%
2021	24	60.9%	46	96,445	Suspension — 73.9%
2022	25	65.8%	38	98,976	Suspension — 81.6%
2023	26	57.1%	42	103,320	Suspension — 85.7%
2024	27	65.6%	61	90,763	Suspension — 36.1%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1997 Rover 820, with age trends.

Suspension

59.7%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

58.7%

↓ Decreases with age

Noise, emissions and leaks

34.8%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

34.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

30.9%

↓ Decreases 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	35.9% (12 yrs)	23.0% (27 yrs)	-12.9%	🟢 ↓
Suspension	29.9% (12 yrs)	36.1% (27 yrs)	+6.2%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

← Back to Rover 820 overview

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Rover 820 page →

About This Data

This page shows how Rover 820 cars manufactured in 1997 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 3,785 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.