Used car guide

2004 Rover 75 petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Rover 75 first registered in 2004 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 1,898 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,898MOTs of 2004 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
62%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
3,800typical miles a year
3.3×the usual rate for suspension arm

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2004 Rover 75 petrol?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2004 Rover 75 petrol than on all cars registered in 2004.

  • Suspension arm3.3× usual
    Rover 75
    11.7% All 2004 cars
    3.5%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.7%, against 0.4% of all 2004 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.

  • Airbag warning light2.4× usual
    Rover 75
    4% All 2004 cars
    1.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.6%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £10–£80 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light while you work the switches: indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.

  • Link ball joint covers1.9× usual
    Rover 75
    5% All 2004 cars
    2.7%

    Failed outright at MOT: 2.5%, against 1.5% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

Better than most

Drive shaft (CV) joints: 1.2% here, against 6.6% of all 2004 cars. Braking performance: 2.9% here, against 7.3% of all 2004 cars.

Common 2004 Rover 75 petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Rover 75 petrol 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
    41% 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.

  • Lights and electrics
    31% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • Tyres
    27% 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.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    12% 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 an engine warning light.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    9% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Rover 75 petrol

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? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2004 Rover 75 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the airbag warning light? (Flagged at MOT 2.4× as often on the 2004 Rover 75 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 1.9× as often on the 2004 Rover 75 petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Rover 75?

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 75 compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2008–Too few tests
2007–Too few tests
2006571Suspension 53%
20053,147Suspension 52%
20035,196Suspension 51%
20023,917Suspension 53%
20012,186Suspension 49%
20001,164Suspension 48%
1999447Suspension 39%
1959–Too few tests
1958–Too few tests
1957–Too few tests
1956–Too few tests
1955–Too few tests
1954–Too few tests
1953–Too few tests
1952–Too few tests
1951–Too few tests
1950–Too few tests
1949–Too few tests
1948–Too few tests

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 75 cars first registered in 2004. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score