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Rover Montego (1989)

540 real MOT outcomes analysed • 14.7% first-time pass rate

1989 Rover Montego

CarHunch analysed 540 real MOT records for the 1989 Rover Montego. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 65.3% below UK average
14.7%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
75,362
typical mileage
63,438–105,851 middle half
2.2%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
0.31
avg MOT failures per car
over 1.7 tests on record

What to check before buying a 1989 Rover Montego

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 Montego

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 (81%) 438 15.7% 0.32
Diesel (19%) 102 10.5% 0.27

Mileage Distribution

Most 1989 Rover Montego 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.

63,438
low mileage
75,362
typical
105,851
high mileage

Half of all 1989 Rover Montego vehicles fall between 63,438 and 105,851 miles.

MOT History Averages

1.7
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.31
Avg failures per vehicle
0.6
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 1989 Rover Montego

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

  • 27.3%
    Offside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 27.2%
    Nearside Rear Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 19%
    Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content excessive
  • 15.8%
    Oil leak
  • 14.6%
    Offside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 14.1%
    Nearside Rear wheel bearing has slight play
  • 13.3%
    Nearside Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded
  • 13%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 1989. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Rover Montego?

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

UK

Other model years — Rover Montego:

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995