Rover 214 (1997)

29,090 real MOT outcomes analysed • 68.5% first-time pass rate

1997 Rover 214

CarHunch analysed 29,090 real MOT records for the 1997 Rover 214. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 11.5% below UK average
68.5%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
75,071
typical mileage
60,286–90,694 middle half
11.5%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.99
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1997 Rover 214

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 214

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

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Petrol (100%) 29,072 68.5% 1.99
Diesel (0%) 11 73.4% 1.91
LPG (0%) 4 63.5% 2
Other (0%) 3 72.2% 1

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Rover 214 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.

60,286
low mileage
75,071
typical
90,694
high mileage

Half of all 1997 Rover 214 vehicles fall between 60,286 and 90,694 miles.

1997 Rover 214 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 93 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2022 (5% of peak).

1,871 93 2014 2022

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2022.

MOT History Averages

6.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.99
Avg failures per vehicle
5.4
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1997 Rover 214

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

  • 37.1%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
  • 27.8%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 27%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 21.7%
    Oil leak
  • 18.3%
    Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
  • 17.8%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive
  • 16.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 15.8%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Rover 214?

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

UK

Other model years — Rover 214:

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000