Rover Discovery MOT Pass Rate
Overall pass rate across all manufacture years, based on 32 real MOT test results. Failure rate: 59.4%.
Data from official DVSA MOT testing records
Rover Discovery MOT Reliability Overview
The Rover Discovery is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 32 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 40.6% and a failure rate of 59.4%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
Based on this data, the Rover Discovery earns a "Very Poor" reliability rating. The average Rover Discovery presents for MOT with approximately 141,292 miles on the clock.
The most common MOT failure for the Rover Discovery is Brakes, affecting 56.3% of all tests. 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. The second most common issue is Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment at 50.0%. Body, Structure and General Items rounds out the top three at 46.9%. 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
* 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 | 84.4% | 27 |
| 2 | Brakes | 78.1% | 25 |
| 3 | Suspension | 78.1% | 25 |
| 4 | Body, Structure And General Items | 53.1% | 17 |
| 5 | Steering | 46.9% | 15 |
| 6 | Driver's View Of The Road | 34.4% | 11 |
| 7 | Tyres | 21.9% | 7 |
| 8 | Exhaust, Fuel And Emissions | 12.5% | 4 |
| 9 | Seat Belts And Supplementary Restraint Systems | 9.4% | 3 |
| 10 | Body, Chassis, Structure | 9.4% | 3 |
| 11 | Non-component Advisories | 3.1% | 1 |
| 12 | Registration Plates And Vin | 3.1% | 1 |
| 13 | Items Not Tested | 3.1% | 1 |
| 14 | Noise, Emissions And Leaks | 3.1% | 1 |
Failures per 10,000 Miles
avg. 141,292 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 | 5.97 | 84.4% | 27 |
| Brakes | 5.53 | 78.1% | 25 |
| Suspension | 5.53 | 78.1% | 25 |
| Body & Structure | 4.42 | 62.5% | 20 |
| Steering | 3.32 | 46.9% | 15 |
| Visibility | 2.43 | 34.4% | 11 |
| Tyres | 1.55 | 21.9% | 7 |
| Emissions & Exhaust | 0.88 | 12.5% | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 0.66 | 9.4% | 3 |
| Non-component advisories | 0.22 | 3.1% | 1 |
| Registration Plates and VIN | 0.22 | 3.1% | 1 |
| Items Not Tested | 0.22 | 3.1% | 1 |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.22 | 3.1% | 1 |
🚗 Similar Cars to Consider
Mileage at MOT
The average Rover Discovery has 141,292 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 Discovery has a mileage-adjusted failure rate of 4.20% per 10,000 miles driven. The average across all makes is 5.38%, so this model is better than average.
About Rover Discovery MOT Data
The Rover Discovery is a rare vehicle in the UK, with 32 MOT test results recorded in our database spanning 0 manufacture years. It has an overall MOT pass rate of 40.6% and a failure rate of 59.4%, which is significantly below the UK average of approximately 37%.
For Rover Discovery owners, these results suggest above-average failure risk — thorough pre-MOT checks are recommended. Focus your pre-MOT checks on brakes and lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 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 Discovery is likely to perform.
Brakes — 56.3% of failures
Brakes issues account for 56.3% of MOT failures on the Rover Discovery. 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).
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment — 50.0% of failures
Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment issues account for 50.0% of MOT failures on the Rover Discovery. 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.
Body, Structure and General Items — 46.9% of failures
Body, Structure and General Items issues account for 46.9% of MOT failures on the Rover Discovery. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Rover Discovery?
Based on 32 (based on limited data) MOT tests in our database, the Rover Discovery has an overall pass rate of 40.6% (59.4% fail rate).
What are the most common MOT failures on a Rover Discovery?
The top 3 reasons a Rover Discovery fails its MOT are: 1. Brakes (56.3%), 2. Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (50.0%), 3. Body, Structure and General Items (46.9%). Check these areas before booking your MOT.
Is the Rover Discovery reliable?
With a 59.4% MOT failure rate, the Discovery is less reliable than average compared to the UK average of ~40%.
What should I check before an MOT on my Rover Discovery?
Based on failure data, focus on: Brakes (56.3%); Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment (50.0%); Body, Structure and General Items (46.9%). 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.