Rover 45 (2002)

13,932 real MOT outcomes analysed • 75.1% first-time pass rate

2002 Rover 45

CarHunch analysed 13,932 real MOT records for the 2002 Rover 45. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Average reliability 4.9% below UK average
75.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
54,227
typical mileage
41,325–68,451 middle half
17.4%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
3.32
avg MOT failures per car
over 12.3 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.8 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

75.5%
Petrol
11,802 vehicles
72.7%
Diesel
2,118 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2002 Rover 45

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 45

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 (85%) 11,802 75.5% 3.24
Diesel (15%) 2,118 72.7% 3.8
LPG (0%) 12 75.2% 2.92

Mileage Distribution

Most 2002 Rover 45 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.

41,325
low mileage
54,227
typical
68,451
high mileage

Half of all 2002 Rover 45 vehicles fall between 41,325 and 68,451 miles.

2002 Rover 45 — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 353 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2024 (5% of peak).

6,911 353 2014 2024

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2024.

MOT History Averages

12.3
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
3.32
Avg failures per vehicle
12.2
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2002 Rover 45

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 62.1%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 59.5%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 48.2%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 43.6%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 34.5%
    Nearside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
  • 32.9%
    Oil leak
  • 32.7%
    Offside Rear Trailing arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement
  • 27.6%
    Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Rover 45?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Rover 45:

2000 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006