Rover
45
3,677 MOT tests analysed. runs below the UK fleet average — here's where 45s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.6 points below the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — buyers should expect more first-time fails than the typical UK car.
Pass
64.9%
Pass-after-fix
5.2%
Fail
29.1%
Avg miles
80,022
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
This model's production run straddles the January 2006 Euro 4 cutoff. Individual cars vary — check your registration plate on the government's ULEZ checker. Daily charges if driven in the zone: London £12.50 · Birmingham £8.00 .
The picture
45: a below-average pass rate worth digging into
Across 3,323 MOT tests, the 45 returns 66.3% first-time pass — well below the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is the strength or continuity of the load bearing. A split CV-joint boot and a missing CV-joint boot round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 78,524, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
425 occurrences · 11.6% of tests
- 02
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot severely deteriorated
248 occurrences · 6.7% of tests
- 03
A suspension joint dust cover severely deteriorated
211 occurrences · 5.7% of tests
- 04
A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
194 occurrences · 5.3% of tests
- 05
Headlamp reflector or lens slightly defective
110 occurrences · 3.0% of tests
- 06
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
93 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 07
Exhaust system leaking or insecure
92 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 08
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
91 occurrences · 2.5% of tests
- 09
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
88 occurrences · 2.4% of tests
- 10
Stop lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
80 occurrences · 2.2% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 2 failures
£90–£320
If every one of this 45's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
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Parts & supplies for this fix
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Buying or keeping a 45?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a 45 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.