Rover 25 (2001)
2001 Rover 25
CarHunch analysed 41,023 real MOT records for the 2001 Rover 25. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2001 Rover 25 falls short of the UK average with a 73.6% first-time pass rate—6.4 percentage points below the 80% benchmark—suggesting these cars need more attention to stay road-legal. Diesel variants are noticeably weaker, passing only 68.4% of the time compared to 74% for petrol models, and while the 14.9% dangerous defect rate isn't alarming, it's still a consideration for safety-conscious buyers.
These cars are running relatively low mileage for their age (median 55,595 miles), yet still averaging over 3 failures per test, which points to age-related wear rather than hard use. The 8.3 advisories per vehicle flag ongoing maintenance niggles—suspension, lights, and exhaust components tend to be the culprits—so budget for regular remedial work if you buy one. If you're seriously considering this model, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the cooling system and braking components, where most failures cluster.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 5.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2001 Rover 25
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 25
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 (94%) | 38,503 | 74% | 3.04 |
| Diesel (6%) | 2,514 | 68.4% | 3.94 |
| LPG (0%) | 5 | 79.6% | 2.6 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 85.7% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2001 Rover 25 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.
Half of all 2001 Rover 25 vehicles fall between 42,677 and 70,139 miles.
2001 Rover 25 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 752 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2023 (5% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2023.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2001 Rover 25
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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63.2%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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56.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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28.4%
Oil leak
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27.9%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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26%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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24.2%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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23.3%
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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20.3%
Offside Stop lamp not working
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2001. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Rover 25?
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