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Rover 218 (1998)

2,349 real MOT outcomes analysed • 69.1% first-time pass rate

1998 Rover 218

CarHunch analysed 2,349 real MOT records for the 1998 Rover 218. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 10.9% below UK average
69.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
83,569
typical mileage
68,468–100,528 middle half
17.6%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.37
avg MOT failures per car
over 6.9 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1998 Rover 218

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 218

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%) 2,345 69% 2.37
Diesel (0%) 4 73.6% 2.5

Mileage Distribution

Most 1998 Rover 218 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.

68,468
low mileage
83,569
typical
100,528
high mileage

Half of all 1998 Rover 218 vehicles fall between 68,468 and 100,528 miles.

1998 Rover 218 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 44 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (23% of peak).

189 44 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

6.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.37
Avg failures per vehicle
7
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Rover 218

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

  • 51.3%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 42.8%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
  • 34.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 30%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 25.4%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive
  • 24.7%
    Exhaust emissions Lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits
  • 19.2%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 18.6%
    Brakes imbalanced across an axle

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Rover 218?

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

UK

Other model years — Rover 218:

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999