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Rover Metro (1997)

777 real MOT outcomes analysed • 66.1% first-time pass rate

1997 Rover Metro

CarHunch analysed 777 real MOT records for the 1997 Rover Metro. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 13.9% below UK average
66.1%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
50,513
typical mileage
38,086–63,698 middle half
13%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
1.64
avg MOT failures per car
over 4.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1997 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 (95%) 737 66.7% 1.61
Diesel (5%) 40 56.1% 2.05

Mileage Distribution

Most 1997 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.

38,086
low mileage
50,513
typical
63,698
high mileage

Half of all 1997 Rover Metro vehicles fall between 38,086 and 63,698 miles.

1997 Rover Metro — Still on the Road

Numbers are declining — 10 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2021 (25% of peak).

40 10 2014 2021

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2021.

MOT History Averages

4.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
1.64
Avg failures per vehicle
3.1
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1997 Rover Metro

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 37%
    Parking brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 19.6%
    Service brake: efficiency below requirements
  • 16.5%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 16.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 13.3%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive
  • 13%
    Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 12%
    Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm
  • 11.6%
    Offside Rear fog lamp not working

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1997. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Rover Metro?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Rover Metro:

1982 1983 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998