Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1991 Rover 111?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1991 Rover 111?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1991 Rover 111?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

Is the 1991 Rover 111 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 241 vehicles, the 1991 Rover 111 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 59%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1991 Rover 111?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1991 Rover 111 are: Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive (28.6% of vehicles), Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (14.7% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (14.7% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1991 Rover 111?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Rover 111 (1991)

241 real MOT outcomes analysed • 59% first-time pass rate

1991 Rover 111

CarHunch analysed 241 real MOT records for the 1991 Rover 111. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Mileage Distribution MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 1991 Rover 111 is a struggling proposition by MOT standards: its first-time pass rate of 59% is nearly 21 percentage points below the UK average of 80%, meaning four in ten cars fail their test. The dangerous defect rate of 5.8% is modest and not a major red flag, but the low pass rate itself reflects genuine structural reliability concerns.

These cars have covered relatively low mileage for their age (median 64,031 miles), yet they're still accumulating an average of 1.07 failures and 1.2 advisories per vehicle—suggesting age-related wear and mechanical decay rather than high-mileage abuse. If you're considering one, budget for pre-purchase inspection by a specialist and expect repair costs; the median Carhunch score of 50 confirms this is a high-risk buy that demands professional vetting before commitment.

We have limited data for the 1991 Rover 111 — treat the figures below as indicative rather than definitive.

⚠️ Around 1 in 20 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

59%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

5.8%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

1.07

Over 2.7 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

64k

Middle half: 50k–77k

For context

These stats describe 241 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 241 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Exhaust & emissions 28.6%

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive

Brake wear 14.7%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Service brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Suspension & steering 14.7%

Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Front Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Seat belts 11%

Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded · …

Tyre wear 9.9%

Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Corrosion / rust 8.1%

Nearside Rear Body has a sharp edge caused by corrosion

Inspect sills, subframes and brake pipes in person — photos rarely show structural rust.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1991.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 241 Rover 111 cars.

Before you buy a 1991 Rover 111

Based on MOT data from 241 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 5.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 31,876 Rover 111 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Blue 35%

11,165

Red 33.7%

10,757

White 9.8%

3,123

Green 7.8%

2,473

Silver 6.6%

2,111

Purple 4.4%

1,415

Grey 2%

631

Black 0.4%

134

Turquoise 0.2%

Maroon 0%

Gold 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1991 Rover 111 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

64,031

typical

49,755

low mileage

77,311

high mileage

Half of all 1991 Rover 111 vehicles fall between 49,755 and 77,311 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 49,755 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 49,755–77,311 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1991 Rover 111s sit.

⚠ Over 104,369 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

MOT History Averages

2.7

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

1.07

Avg failures per vehicle

1.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Rover 111: All 111 years → Which year to buy? →

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Or browse all models: Rover →

Compare with another model

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Buyer beware — pass it on