Rover 420 (1998)
1998 Rover 420
CarHunch analysed 14,100 real MOT records for the 1998 Rover 420. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1998 Rover 420 is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with just a 65% first-time MOT pass rate compared to 80% nationally—meaning roughly one in three owners face unexpected repair bills at test time. Nearly one in five of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point, which is a material concern for safety-critical systems.
These 420s are averaging over 104,000 miles, typical for their age, but they're racking up 2.56 failures per test and 7.5 advisories, suggesting rust, wear, and component degradation are endemic to the model. If you're considering one, budget for immediate remedial work and have a pre-purchase inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and exhaust—the usual culprits in cars of this age and condition.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 1.6 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1998 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.
CarHunch may earn a small commission if you buy via these links — at no extra cost to you.
Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (62%) | 8,726 | 64.4% | 2.73 |
| Petrol (38%) | 5,370 | 66% | 2.27 |
| LPG (0%) | 3 | 60.6% | 3.67 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 55.6% | 4 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1998 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 1998 Rover 420 vehicles fall between 92,152 and 133,925 miles.
1998 Rover 420 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 55 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2020 (7% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2020.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 1998 Rover 420
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
-
51.1%
Oil leak
-
38.6%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
-
37.7%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
36.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
30.5%
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine
-
30.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
-
30%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
-
27.7%
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1998. 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.