Rover 420 (1996)
1996 Rover 420
CarHunch analysed 14,829 real MOT records for the 1996 Rover 420. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1996 Rover 420 is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with only 64% passing their MOT first time compared to 80% nationally—and one in six of these cars have recorded dangerous defects during their test history, which is a genuine buyer concern. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (64.3% and 63.8% pass rates respectively), so fuel type won't help you pick a better one.
At 105,000 miles average, these cars are racking up typical mileage for their age, but they're failing because of mechanical wear, not neglect—expect nearly two failures per test and over five advisory items per vehicle as standard. Before buying, budget for immediate repairs: a 36% failure rate means most examples will need work to pass their next MOT.
What to check before buying a 1996 Rover 420
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 420
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (59%) | 8,785 | 63.8% | 2.04 |
| Petrol (41%) | 6,037 | 64.3% | 1.89 |
| LPG (0%) | 6 | 52.1% | 3.33 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 57.1% | 3 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1996 Rover 420 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 1996 Rover 420 vehicles fall between 93,750 and 134,473 miles.
1996 Rover 420 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 20 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (5% of peak).
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
Most Common MOT Issues — 1996 Rover 420
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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54.8%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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41.2%
Oil leak
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26.9%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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26.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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22.3%
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine
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21.2%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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20.5%
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
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19.9%
Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1996. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Rover 420?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.