2004 · 20 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2004 Rover 45 MOT pass rate and common faults

431 MOT tests in 2024. 56.8% passed first time, compared with 56.4% for all cars the same age.

101About average
Passed first time56.8%
Failed or needed repairs43.2%
Typical mileage at test74,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 431 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt9.7%
  2. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength8.1%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding4.4%
  4. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm4.2%
    30 marked dangerous
  5. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.2%
  6. Exhaust system: has a major leak of exhaust gases3.7%
  7. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements3.2%
  8. Stop lamp: not working3.2%
  9. Suspension arms - ball joint dust cover: ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt3.0%
  10. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.0%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics25.3%
  2. Body & chassis20.4%
  3. Suspension19.5%
  4. Brakes19.0%
  5. Tyres10.0%
  6. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)9.0%
  7. Emissions & leaks8.6%
  8. Seat belts & airbags3.9%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.8%
  2. Suspension arms - pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn12.8%
  3. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded11.8%
  4. Component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength10.2%
  5. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure10.0%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year is about as good as an average car its age. Before buying, check the area that fails most: joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2004 Rover 45?

In 2024, 56.8% of 2004 Rover 45 cars passed their MOT first time, across 431 tests. The average for all 20-year-old cars was 56.4%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2004 Rover 45?

The most common failure reasons were joints: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt; component mounting prescribed areas: prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2004 Rover 45 reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 101, which is about average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).