Rover 75 (2004)
2004 Rover 75
CarHunch analysed 14,529 real MOT records for the 2004 Rover 75. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2004 Rover 75's first-time pass rate of 73.8% trails the UK average of 80% by a meaningful margin, and nearly a third of these cars have recorded dangerous defects at some point—a significant concern for a buyer. The diesel variant performs worse still at 71.9% pass rate compared to petrol's 76.2%, suggesting the diesel engines in this generation have aged less gracefully.
These cars are typically running around 87,500 miles at test time, which is reasonable for their age, but the average of 4.32 failures per vehicle reveals fundamental structural or mechanical issues beyond routine wear. If you're considering one, budget for serious remedial work: with 22.4 advisories per car on average, the nicest examples will still need attention to brakes, suspension, and electrics—get a full pre-purchase inspection and factor in £1,500+ for deferred maintenance.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 4.3 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2004 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.
- ⚠️ 31.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (56%) | 8,206 | 71.9% | 5.03 |
| Petrol (43%) | 6,291 | 76.2% | 3.4 |
| LPG (0%) | 29 | 77.3% | 3 |
| Gas Bi-Fuel (0%) | 3 | 87.8% | 1.67 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2004 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 2004 Rover 75 vehicles fall between 67,801 and 110,132 miles.
2004 Rover 75 — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 1,616 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (14% 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 — 2004 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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72.6%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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68.6%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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61.7%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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61.5%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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51.8%
Nearside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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49.2%
Offside Front Brake pipe slightly corroded
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36.1%
Parking brake lever has little reserve travel
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32.1%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2004. 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.