Should I check the MOT history before buying a 1997 Rover 620?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 1997 Rover 620?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 1997 Rover 620?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 1997 Rover 620 vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

21% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 1997 Rover 620 reliable?

Based on MOT data from 11,350 vehicles, the 1997 Rover 620 has a first-time MOT pass rate of 65.9%, indicating average reliability for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 1997 Rover 620?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 1997 Rover 620 are: Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (94.8% of vehicles), Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (28.4% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (28% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 1997 Rover 620?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Rover 620 (1997)

11,350 real MOT outcomes analysed • 65.9% first-time pass rate

1997 Rover 620

CarHunch analysed 11,350 real MOT records for the 1997 Rover 620. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Petrol vs Diesel Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

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.

The 1997 Rover 620 has a below-average first-time pass rate (65.9% vs ~80% UK average) — check the specific vehicle's full MOT history carefully before buying.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

65.9%

UK average ~80%

Below average

Dangerous (ever)

21.4%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

2.47

Over 6.8 tests on record

High

Typical mileage

100k

Middle half: 81k–123k

For context

⚠️ Below average. More vehicles in this cohort fail their first MOT than typical. Scrutinise this vehicle's history — look for recurring issues, not just the latest result.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 6.3 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 11,350 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Buyer beware — pass it on

What tends to go wrong

Across 11,350 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Brake wear 94.8%

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Parking brake lever has no reserve travel · Offside rear parking brake recording little or no effort · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Tyre wear 28.4%

Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Other issues 25%

Oil leak · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split

Lighting 16.7%

Offside Stop lamp not working · Nearside Stop lamp not working

Usually cheap to fix. Worth confirming all lights work before collecting.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 11,350 Rover 620 cars.

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.5 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

66.5%

Petrol

8,202 vehicles

64%

Diesel

3,140 vehicles

Before you buy a 1997 Rover 620

Based on MOT data from 11,350 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 21.4% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

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

Colour Breakdown

Based on 62,697 Rover 620 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 25.9%

16,209

Blue 19.8%

12,417

Green 19.5%

12,244

White 9.3%

5,814

Grey 7.9%

4,960

Black 7.7%

4,813

Silver 5.5%

3,444

Gold 3.8%

2,379

Orange 0.6%

359

Bronze 0%

Maroon 0%

Brown 0%

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 Rover 620 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

100,210

typical

81,077

low mileage

122,505

high mileage

Half of all 1997 Rover 620 vehicles fall between 81,077 and 122,505 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 81,077 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 81,077–122,505 miles — normal for age. This is where most 1997 Rover 620s sit.

⚠ Over 165,381 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

1997 Rover 620 — Still on the Road

Numbers are thinning — 7% of 1997 Rover 620s are still active.

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.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

6.8

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

2.47

Avg failures per vehicle

6.3

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Rover 620: All 620 years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

See how the 1997 Rover 620 stacks up against a rival.

Buyer beware — pass it on