1991 Rover 216 1.6L Petrol · J705 ESL

The most recent MOT test on 17 October 2022 recorded a failure at 125,931 miles, with no defects listed by the tester. Prior to that, the vehicle passed cleanly on 18 October 2021 at 125,870 miles. The maintenance trend cannot be called stable or worsening with confidence because the failure carries no advisory or defect detail, but the sudden fail after a clean pass suggests an undocumented fault or administrative issue at the last test. The Rover has not been tested since October 2022, leaving it off-road and unroadworthy for nearly four years as of July 2026. The odometer shows only 61 miles accrued between the 2021 and 2022 tests, and total recorded mileage sits at 125,931 over roughly 35 years. That equates to about 3,600 miles per year, which is low for a 1991 car. Such limited use often means long stationary periods. The sparse record shows no advisories across either entry, so we cannot chart wear on consumables or mechanical items from the data alone. A buyer must treat the 2022 failure as a red flag despite the blank defect field. DVSA systems require a reason for failure, so the absence here points to either a data recording gap or a non-mechanical reject such as documentation. Given the age, the Rover needs a physical inspection for structural corrosion on sills, subframes, and suspension mounts, plus checks on perished rubber bushes, brake calipers, and fuel lines that degrade with time rather than miles. Verify why the car failed in 2022 and confirm whether it has been stored under cover. The low mileage hides the risk of dried seals and rust from inactivity. Arrange a fresh MOT before purchase, as the expired test leaves road legality unproven since late 2022.