Used car guide

2004 Rover Streetwise petrol: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the petrol Rover Streetwise first registered in 2004 (petrol cars only): we looked at the 604 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

604MOTs of 2004 petrol cars, done in 2023–2025
60%pass first time (all 2004 cars: 57%)
3,600typical miles a year
2.6×the usual rate for drive shaft (cv) joints

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

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

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints2.6× usual
    Rover Streetwise
    17.4% All 2004 cars
    6.6%

    Failed outright at MOT: 9.4%, against 3% of all 2004 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    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.

Better than most

Rigid brake pipes: 5.8% here, against 17.4% of all 2004 cars. Engine oil leaks: 6.6% here, against 14.5% of all 2004 cars.

Common 2004 Rover Streetwise petrol MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2004 Rover Streetwise petrol MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    35% 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.

  • Tyres
    30% 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.

  • Brakes
    24% 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.

  • Driveshafts and joints
    18% of testsRough price £60–£350

    At the viewing: On full steering lock, drive slowly and listen for clicking from the front wheels.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    13% 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.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2004 Rover Streetwise 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 drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2004 Rover Streetwise petrol as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Rover Streetwise?

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 Streetwise compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2006–Too few tests
2005197Suspension 38%
2003195Suspension 30%

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