Rover 420 (2000)
2000 Rover 420
CarHunch analysed 847 real MOT records for the 2000 Rover 420. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2000 Rover 420 is a genuinely problematic buy: its 67% pass rate sits 13 percentage points below the UK average, and nearly one in five owners will encounter a dangerous defect at some point. Neither fuel type offers meaningful refuge—diesels pass at 66.2% and petrol variants at 68.7%, making this a structural reliability issue rather than an isolated problem.
These cars are averaging 90,500 miles on the clock, which is reasonable for age, but they're racking up 3.4 failures per test and nearly 11 advisories each. If you're considering a 420, assume you're buying into a vehicle that will need consistent remedial work and budget accordingly for repairs before it gets through its next MOT.
What to check before buying a 2000 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.
- ⚠️ 21.8% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 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 (69%) | 584 | 66.2% | 3.73 |
| Petrol (31%) | 262 | 68.7% | 2.75 |
| LPG (0%) | 1 | 50% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2000 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 2000 Rover 420 vehicles fall between 75,889 and 115,743 miles.
2000 Rover 420 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (5% 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 — 2000 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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51.1%
Oil leak
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38.6%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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37.7%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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36.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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30.5%
Exhaust emits an excessive level of metered smoke for a turbo charged engine
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30.3%
Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
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30%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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27.7%
Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2000. 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.