Rover Metro (1990)
1990 Rover Metro
CarHunch analysed 5,740 real MOT records for the 1990 Rover Metro. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 1990 Rover Metro is significantly less reliable than the UK average, with a first-time pass rate of just 59.5% against the national 80%—meaning four in ten examples will fail their MOT. While dangerous defects are relatively uncommon at 10.7%, this is still a concern worth factoring into your purchase decision.
At a median mileage of around 56,600 miles for a 34-year-old car, these Metros have generally been driven conservatively, yet they're still averaging 1.41 failures and 2.4 advisories per test, suggesting fundamental wear issues rather than neglect. Before buying, have an independent inspection focus on suspension, brakes, and bodywork corrosion—the usual culprits for cars of this age—and budget for remedial work.
What to check before buying a 1990 Rover Metro
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.
- 📄 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 Metro
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 (100%) | 5,737 | 59.5% | 1.41 |
| Diesel (0%) | 2 | 30% | 1.5 |
| Electric (0%) | 1 | 83.3% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 1990 Rover Metro 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 1990 Rover Metro vehicles fall between 41,361 and 74,928 miles.
1990 Rover Metro — Still on the Road
Numbers are declining — 90 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (33% 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 — 1990 Rover Metro
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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35.6%
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
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17.1%
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
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15.2%
Nearside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
-
13.6%
Offside Rear Subframe mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
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12.7%
Service brake: efficiency below requirements
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12.4%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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11.8%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
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10.9%
Oil leak
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1990. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Rover Metro?
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