Rover 75 (2003)
2003 Rover 75
CarHunch analysed 20,309 real MOT records for the 2003 Rover 75. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2003 Rover 75 passes its MOT just 74.1% of the time, nearly 6 points below the UK average of 80%, and a concerning 25% of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a red flag for anyone considering purchase. Petrol versions fare slightly better at 75.7% pass rate compared to diesel at 71.7%, suggesting the diesel engines may be more prone to wear-related issues.
At a median mileage of 55,137 miles for a 21-year-old car, these Rovers have been relatively well-maintained, yet they still average nearly 4 failures and 18.5 advisories per test, pointing to accumulating wear on ageing components like brakes, suspension, and emissions systems. Before buying, have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the cooling system and fuel injectors—common weak points on this generation—and budget for regular specialist servicing given the above-average failure rate.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2003 Rover 75
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.
- ⚠️ 25% 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 75
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 (60%) | 12,184 | 75.7% | 3.33 |
| Diesel (40%) | 8,079 | 71.7% | 4.98 |
| LPG (0%) | 42 | 72.9% | 4.05 |
| Other (0%) | 2 | 89.5% | 1.5 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 1 | 60% | 8 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 69.6% | 7 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2003 Rover 75 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 2003 Rover 75 vehicles fall between 42,805 and 69,998 miles.
2003 Rover 75 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 1,315 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (10% 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 — 2003 Rover 75
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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66.8%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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66.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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58.3%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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58%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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52.3%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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52.1%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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35.5%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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34.4%
Rear Exhaust has part of the system slightly deteriorated
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2003. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Rover 75?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.