Rover 620 (1997)
1997 Rover 620
CarHunch analysed 11,350 real MOT records for the 1997 Rover 620. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1997 Rover 620 is well below the UK average, with only 65.8% passing MOT first time against the national 80% benchmark—and one in five of these cars have recorded dangerous defects, which is a genuine buyer concern. Petrol versions fare marginally better at 66.5% pass rate, while diesels slip to 64%, suggesting neither powertrain offers a reliability advantage.
These 620s are averaging 110,700 miles, which is reasonable for 27-year-old cars, but they're racking up 2.47 failures and 6.3 advisories per test, pointing to accumulating wear across multiple systems rather than one specific weak point. If you're seriously considering one, budget for repairs before and after purchase, and treat the MOT history as your roadmap—a car that's passed consistently is far more trustworthy than one that scraped through with multiple attempts.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 1997 Rover 620
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.
- ⚠️ 21.4% 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 620
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 (72%) | 8,202 | 66.5% | 2.53 |
| Diesel (28%) | 3,140 | 64% | 2.32 |
| LPG (0%) | 8 | 63.8% | 2.25 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1997 Rover 620 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 620 vehicles fall between 81,077 and 122,505 miles.
1997 Rover 620 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 69 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (7% 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 — 1997 Rover 620
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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94.8%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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28.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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28%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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25.4%
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel
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25%
Oil leak
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21.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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19.5%
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
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19.2%
Offside 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 620?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.