What are the most common problems with a Rover 25?

At MOT, drive shaft (cv) joints and battery are flagged more often than on other cars the same age.

What should I ask the seller before buying a used Rover 25?

Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Rover 25 as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the Rover 25 as on other cars the same age.) Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Rover 25 as on other cars the same age.) Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Used car guide · 1999–2006

Rover 25 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Rover 25, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 9,688 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1999 Rover 25

Too few Rover 25 cars first registered in 1999 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Rover 25 as a whole.

36on the UK register at the end of 2025

Petrolfuel type

What to check on a 1999 car

MOT history
Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.
Service history
Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.
Finance and write-offs
MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.
Test drive
Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999

What usually goes wrong with a Rover 25?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Rover 25 in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Rover 25 MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

Drive shaft (CV) joints
up to 2.9× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Rough price £60–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: Drive slowly on full steering lock in both directions and listen for clicking. Look for split rubber boots behind the front wheels.
Battery
up to 4.1× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Rough price £80–£200 our estimate

At the viewing: Check the car starts cleanly and there are no warning lights once running.
Braking performance
up to 2× usual

Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2002.

Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

Rover 25 MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

Year	Pass first time	All cars that year	MOT tests
2006	52%	56% -4	145 (small sample)
2005	60%	57% +3	1,129
2004	61%	57% +4	1,698
2003	61%	57% +4	1,975
2002	62%	58% +4	1,767
2001	61%	60% +1	1,812
2000	62%	61% +1	1,162

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Rover 25

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the Rover 25 as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the battery? (Flagged at MOT 3.9× as often on the Rover 25 as on other cars the same age.)
Any recent work on the steering swivel joints? (Flagged at MOT 3.6× as often on the Rover 25 as on other cars the same age.)
Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Rover 25?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score