1996 Rover 114 — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 320 MOT tests analysed for the 1996 Rover 114, the most common recorded failure areas were emissions & environmental, lighting & signalling and brakes. Its pass rate of 74.7% was below the average for cars of a similar age (76.8%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 30.6% in the 90-120k group versus 14.9% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emissions & environmental | 10.0% | 32 |
| 2 | Lighting & signalling | 9.7% | 31 |
| 3 | Brakes | 9.4% | 30 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 7.2% | 23 |
| 5 | Suspension | 6.9% | 22 |
| 6 | Visibility | 3.8% | 12 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catalyst emissions | 48 |
| 2 | Component mounting prescribed areas | 28 |
| 3 | Service brake performance | 25 |
| 4 | Rear fog lamp | 14 |
| 5 | Service brake imbalance | 12 |
| 6 | Wipers | 11 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brakes | 23.1% | 74 |
| 2 | Tyres | 17.8% | 57 |
| 3 | Suspension | 16.6% | 53 |
| 4 | Body, structure & corrosion | 8.8% | 28 |
| 5 | Lighting & signalling | 6.6% | 21 |
| 6 | Other defects | 4.7% | 15 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 74 | 14.9% |
| 30-60k | 128 | 27.3% |
| 60-90k | 77 | 31.2% |
| 90-120k | 36 | 30.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 24.4% |
| 2022 | 70 | 30.0% |
| 2023 | 65 | 21.5% |
| 2024 | 52 | 23.1% |
| 2025 | 51 | 27.5% |
What to check before buying a 1996 114
Before buying a 1996 Rover 114, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Emissions & environmental accounted for 10.0% of tests for this year.
- Emissions & environmental (10.0% of tests): More common on older diesels (DPF/EGR) — can be expensive; check for warning lights and smoke. Typical repair: £100–£600.
- Lighting & signalling (9.7% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
- Brakes (9.4% of tests): Pads/discs are routine wear; binding, imbalance or corroded pipes are more serious — test for pulling under braking. Typical repair: £100–£350 per axle.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 1996 Rover 114s pass their MOT?
74.7% of the 320 1996 Rover 114 MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 25.3% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 1996 Rover 114?
Emissions & environmental, recorded in 10.0% of tests, followed by lighting & signalling (9.7%).
Does the 1996 114 get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 14.9% in the 0-30k band to 30.6% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 320 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.