Rover 111 (1997)
1997 Rover 111
CarHunch analysed 5,778 real MOT records for the 1997 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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The 1997 Rover 111 struggles with reliability: a 64.5% first-time pass rate sits well below the UK average of 80%, meaning roughly one in three cars fail their MOT. While dangerous defects aren't rampant at 16%, that's still a meaningful concern for a nearly 30-year-old vehicle.
These cars are running relatively low mileage for their age at just over 51,000 miles on average, yet still accumulate nearly two failures and nearly five advisories per test—suggesting age and condition matter more than miles here. Before buying, budget for immediate work on common failure items and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on corrosion and brake/suspension components, which typically dominate the failure list on cars this old.
The 1997 Rover 111 has a below-average first-time pass rate (64.5% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.
These stats describe 5,778 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.
What tends to go wrong
Across 5,778 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,778 Rover 111 cars.
Before you buy a 1997 Rover 111
Based on MOT data from 5,778 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
16% 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. -
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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
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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
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 5,751 | 64.5% | 1.94 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 31,876 Rover 111 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 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.
Half of all 1997 Rover 111 vehicles fall between 36,338 and 62,431 miles.
1997 Rover 111 — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 14% of 1997 Rover 111s are still active.
Numbers are declining — 43 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 1997 Rover 111 stacks up against a rival.