Rover 414 (1997)
1997 Rover 414
CarHunch analysed 11,596 real MOT records for the 1997 Rover 414. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1997 Rover 414 is well below the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 68.6% against the national 80%, suggesting these nearly three-decade-old cars are becoming increasingly troublesome. The good news is that dangerous defects are relatively rare at 12.2%, so you're unlikely to inherit a safety nightmare—but you should expect regular maintenance headaches.
These 414s are averaging 82,700 miles on the clock, which is reasonable for their age, yet they're still racking up nearly two failures and nearly six advisories per test, pointing to accumulated wear on tired mechanical systems. Before committing to one, insist on a pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine bay, suspension, and brake system—the advisories suggest these are the weak spots on a model that's simply too old to be fuss-free.
What to check before buying a 1997 Rover 414
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 414
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%) | 11,589 | 68.6% | 1.95 |
| Diesel (0%) | 6 | 71.4% | 2 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 100% | 0 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 Rover 414 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 1997 Rover 414 vehicles fall between 65,705 and 96,820 miles.
1997 Rover 414 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 34 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (6% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1997 Rover 414
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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31.3%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
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22.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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21.9%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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21.1%
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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20.8%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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20.5%
Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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19.3%
Oil leak
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17%
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 414?
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