Used car guide · 1948–2008

Rover 75 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Rover 75, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 23,040 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 1957 Rover 75

Our MOT figures start with cars first registered in 1990. 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 75 as a whole.

14on the UK register at the end of 2025
ProbablyMOT-exempt (40+ years old), unless substantially changed
Petrolmost common fuel (also diesel)
What to check on a 1957 car
  • Rust and structure

    Look underneath at the sills, floor, chassis rails and jacking points. Rust in the structure costs far more to fix than paint bubbles.

  • MOT-exempt isn’t roadworthy

    Cars over 40 don’t need an MOT, but they must still be safe. A voluntary MOT or a specialist inspection is worth the money.

  • Paperwork

    Old MOT certificates, bills and restoration photos show how it has been looked after. Check the logbook matches the car’s VIN and engine number.

  • Originality

    Changes from standard affect value and insurance. Ask what has been replaced or modified.

  • Insurance

    Classic insurance is often cheaper but may limit mileage and use. Get a quote before you buy.

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).

2008200720062005200420032002200120001999195919581957195619551954195319521951195019491948

What usually goes wrong with a Rover 75?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Rover 75 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 75 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

  • Suspension arm

    up to 3.4× usual

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

    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.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 5.1× usual

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

    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.

  • Airbag warning light

    up to 4× usual

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

    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.

  • Individual direction indicators

    up to 2.3× usual

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

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2001.

    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.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000 and 2002.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

Diesel

  • Suspension arm

    up to 4.5× usual

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

    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.

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 2.6× usual

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

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Sub-frame

    up to 2.2× usual

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

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Link ball joint covers

    up to 3.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2002 and 2003.

    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.

  • Anti-roll bar link joints

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2002.

    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.

  • Ball joint

    up to 2.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001 and 2005.

    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.

Rover 75 MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Rover 75 did best (60% passed first time, 4 points above all 2006 cars) and the 2005 did worst (58%, 1 point above all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200660%56% +4571
200558%57% +13,147
200456%57% -16,412
200358%57% +15,196
200259%58% +13,917
200159%60% -12,186
200062%61% +11,164
199966%63% +3447 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Rover 75

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 4.2× as often on the Rover 75 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the link ball joint covers? (Flagged at MOT 4.8× as often on the Rover 75 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 2.3× as often on the Rover 75 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, 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