Used car guide · 2000–2006

Rover 45 common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Rover 45, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 5,998 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

5,998MOTs done in 2023–2025, all years of this model
4,767on the UK register

Pick the year

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).

2006200520042003200220012000

What usually goes wrong with a Rover 45?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Rover 45 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 45 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

  • Rust around suspension or steering mountings

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2000, 2001, 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.

  • Drive shaft (CV) joints

    up to 2.6× usual

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

    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.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.9× usual

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

    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.

  • Braking performance

    up to 2.1× usual

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

    Rough price £100–£350 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a quiet road, brake firmly from about 30mph. The car should stop straight without pulling.

  • Corroded fuel pipes

    up to 5.6× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Rust around sub-frame mountings

    up to 3.3× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2003 and 2004.

    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.

Rover 45 MOT pass rate by year

Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
200554%57% -3675
200457%57% +01,341
200359%57% +21,255
200258%58% +01,099
200158%60% -2955
200056%61% -5673

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Rover 45

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

  1. Any recent work on the rust around suspension or steering mountings? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the Rover 45 as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the drive shaft (cv) joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the Rover 45 as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.9× as often on the Rover 45 as on other cars the same age.)
  4. 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, 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