Used car guide

2002 Rover 45 diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the diesel Rover 45 first registered in 2002 (diesel cars only): we looked at the 148 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: there were only 148 MOTs of these cars during 2023–2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

148MOTs of 2002 diesel cars, done in 2023–2025
58%pass first time (all 2002 cars: 58%)
4,900typical miles a year
2.8×the usual rate for suspension arm bushes and joints

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2002 Rover 45 diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2002 Rover 45 diesel than on all cars registered in 2002.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints2.8× usual
    Rover 45
    23% All 2002 cars
    8.3%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.7%, against 1.9% of all 2002 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

Common 2002 Rover 45 diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2002 Rover 45 diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    47% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    31% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Tyres
    31% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Lights and electrics
    24% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    17% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    17% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2002 Rover 45 diesel

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

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.8× as often on the 2002 Rover 45 diesel as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Rover 45?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Rover 45 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006–Too few tests
2005675Suspension 42%
20041,341Suspension 41%
20031,255Suspension 43%
2001955Suspension 43%
2000673Suspension 49%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Rover 45 cars first registered in 2002. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score