Rover

Rover 820 (1989)

1,966 real MOT outcomes analysed

1989 Rover 820

CarHunch has 1,966 1989 Rover 820 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

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Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Still on the Road Colour Breakdown Compare Models

No MOT data available for this vehicle type

The 1989 Rover 820 doesn't appear in DVLA light-vehicle MOT records — it may be exempt, registered as a different vehicle class, or an import not subject to UK MOT testing. We don't have reliability stats for this specific model, but you can browse other Rover vehicles below.

Browse all Rover models →
No MOT data — worth knowing

Got a specific Rover 820 you're checking out?

The real detail is in the individual vehicle report — MOT history, AI Hunches, mileage timeline, and defect patterns for that specific reg.

UK
MOT statistics not available

We have 1,966 1989 Rover 820 vehicles on record, but none have light-vehicle MOT history in our data source.

There are a few reasons this can happen:

  • Heavy commercial vehicle — trucks, buses and coaches over 3.5 tonnes are tested under the DVSA annual HGV/PSV regime, which uses a separate database not included in our data source
  • Imported vehicles — vehicles registered abroad and recently brought to the UK may have no UK MOT history yet
  • MOT-exempt — vehicles manufactured before 1986 qualify under the 40-year rolling exemption; some specialist and agricultural vehicles are also exempt
  • Never used on public roads — some vehicles are registered but kept off-road and have never required an MOT
Check on the official DVSA service →

What tends to go wrong

Across 1,966 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Other issues 28.2%
Oil leak · Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split · …
Exhaust & emissions 21.1%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive · Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases
Brake wear 17.8%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements · Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded · Nearside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded
Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.
Tyre wear 16.4%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit · Offside 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.
Suspension & steering 9.8%
Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded · Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989.

Before you buy a 1989 Rover 820

Based on MOT data from 1,966 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 0.6% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Colour Breakdown

Based on 23,892 Rover 820 vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Red 24.2%
5,779
Blue 23.8%
5,680
Green 14.7%
3,511
Silver 9.4%
2,241
Grey 9.2%
2,202
White 8.4%
2,002
Gold 6.1%
1,457
Black 2.7%
649
Bronze 1%
243
Beige 0.4%
90
Maroon 0.1%
21
Brown 0.1%
17

1989 Rover 820 — Still on the Road

10 vehicles from this cohort appeared in light-vehicle MOT records in 2016 — a small subset of the registered total, likely lighter variants or specialist conversions tested as light vehicles.

10 10 2014 2016

Based on vehicles from this cohort that appeared in the DVLA light-vehicle MOT database. Most vehicles of this type are tested under the separate DVSA HGV annual testing regime and are not counted here. Data from 2014–2016.

Other model years — Rover 820: All 820 years → Which year to buy? →
1988 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

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Compare with another model

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