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Rover 213 (1990)

147 real MOT outcomes analysed • 29.9% first-time pass rate

1990 Rover 213

CarHunch analysed 147 real MOT records for the 1990 Rover 213. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

This 1990 Rover 213 is a serious reliability worry: only 29.9% pass first time, versus the UK average of 80%. With a median CarHunch score of just 55 and dangerous defects recorded in 3.4% of vehicles, this car demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection and realistic expectations about repair costs.

These survivors have covered a modest 68,252 miles on average, yet still rack up 0.7 failures and 1.0 advisories per test. Age-related decay—not heavy use—is the real problem here; if you're considering one, budget for at least suspension, brakes and fuel system work before driving it daily.

Below average reliability 50.1% below UK average
29.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
68,252
typical mileage
55,359–88,072 middle half
3.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.7
avg MOT failures per car
over 2.5 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1990 Rover 213

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Rover 213

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Mileage Distribution

Most 1990 Rover 213 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

55,359
low mileage
68,252
typical
88,072
high mileage

Half of all 1990 Rover 213 vehicles fall between 55,359 and 88,072 miles.

MOT History Averages

2.5
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.7
Avg failures per vehicle
1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1990 Rover 213

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 35.7%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 35.2%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 21.1%
    Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 19%
    Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 15.4%
    Offside Front Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 14.6%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 13.6%
    Offside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 11.8%
    Nearside Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Rover 213?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Rover 213:

1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989