Rover 25 Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Rover 25 fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 5,709 MOT tests across 7 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Petrol
74%
Rover 25 pass rate
74%
Rover average
82%
All-model average
The Rover 25 has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, which is equal to the Rover average and 8 points below the average across all models in our data. The Rover 25 has maintained consistent MOT pass rates across model years, varying by only 0 percentage points.
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What the Rover 25 Fails Its MOT On
Of the 931 MOT tests on the Rover 25 that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
43%Cars and vans the same age: 49% · Typical repair £15-£200
Body, chassis and structure
39%Cars and vans the same age: 22% (the 25 fails on this more often) · Typical repair £200-£1200
Brakes
25%Cars and vans the same age: 31% · Typical repair £80-£450
Suspension
22%Cars and vans the same age: 38% (the 25 fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors
18%Cars and vans the same age: 18% · Typical repair £10-£350
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure (24% of failed tests, body, chassis and structure)
- Suspension mounting area corroded, significantly reducing its strength (14% of failed tests, suspension)
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively (12% of failed tests, windscreen, wipers and mirrors)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Rover 25 Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each 25 year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
No year passed 3 or more points less often than other cars of the same age.
Passed more often than cars their age
- 2003: 75% passed, against 72% for all 2003 cars (3 points higher, 1,168 tests)
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Rover 25 Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
Rover 25 Running Costs
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Rover 25 FAQ
What are the most common Rover 25 problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Rover 25 that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (43% of the 931 failed tests), body, chassis and structure (39%) and brakes (25%). The single most common fault was "Drive shaft CV boot split or insecure" (24%). Across 5,709 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 74% ended in a pass.
Is the Rover 25 reliable?
The Rover 25 has an average MOT pass rate of 74%, from 5,709 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed within 2 points of other cars of the same age, so about average for its age.
Which Rover 25 years should I avoid?
No Rover 25 year with 1,000+ tests passed 3 or more points less often than all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). The years that passed most often for their age were the 2003 (75% of 1,168 tests passed, against 72% for all 2003 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Rover 25 faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Rover 25 typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Rover Models
Common problems pages for other Rover models