Land Rover Defender: what fails at MOT
107,000 MOT tests on the Land Rover Defender in 2024, counted. 20.3% failed at the first attempt.
The short answer
20.3% of Land Rover Defender tests failed at the first attempt. Cars of the same ages averaged 27.8%, so the Defender does better than most cars its age.
It fails most often on lights and electrics (7.2% of tests), brakes (3.8% of tests) and suspension (3.7% of tests). It fails on steering more often than most cars its age.
By year of registration
Older cars fail more, whatever the model. So each year is shown beside the figure for all cars first used that year.
| First used | Tests | Failed first time | All cars that year | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 20,415 | 5.2% | 10.9% | 29,400 21,400 to 39,800 |
| 2020 | 11,626 | 6.7% | 11.5% | 36,700 27,300 to 46,400 |
| 2016 | 2,781 | 14.4% | 21.3% | 29,300 13,600 to 47,400 |
| 2015 | 10,262 | 18.3% | 24.4% | 41,600 25,200 to 64,300 |
| 2014 | 8,389 | 21.7% | 27.7% | 53,100 34,600 to 75,700 |
| 2013 | 6,437 | 24.6% | 30.6% | 60,700 40,800 to 82,300 |
| 2012 | 5,409 | 26.0% | 33.4% | 66,300 45,200 to 91,400 |
| 2011 | 5,033 | 29.2% | 36.1% | 76,500 51,700 to 103,500 |
| 2010 | 5,076 | 29.2% | 38.6% | 79,200 57,000 to 104,400 |
| 2009 | 4,710 | 31.0% | 39.8% | 85,300 62,100 to 112,900 |
| 2008 | 5,113 | 29.7% | 41.5% | 92,900 68,200 to 122,300 |
| 2007 | 5,645 | 29.6% | 41.5% | 96,800 72,100 to 126,400 |
| 2006 | 5,028 | 31.5% | 42.4% | 103,900 75,500 to 135,900 |
| 2005 | 5,561 | 33.2% | 42.2% | 107,500 78,800 to 138,700 |
| 2004 | 5,857 | 31.7% | 42.3% | 115,100 87,400 to 146,600 |
Green is at least three points better than other cars that year, red at least three points worse. Typical mileage is the middle reading at the test, with the range the middle half of cars fell in.
Where it fails
The share of Land Rover Defender tests with at least one failure in each part of the MOT, beside what cars of the same ages average.
| Part of the test | Defender | Cars its age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 7.2% | 8.0% | |
| Brakes | 3.8% | 4.8% | |
| Suspension | 3.7% | 6.4% | Less than most |
| Steering | 2.9% | 1.4% | More than most |
| Wipers, washers and windscreen | 2.8% | 3.2% | |
| Body and structure | 1.9% | 2.6% | Less than most |
| Tyres | 1.1% | 4.2% | Less than most |
| Exhaust and emissions | 1.1% | 2.3% | Less than most |
The parts that fail most
- Headlamp aim2.1%
- Side light2.0%
- Brake light1.8%
- Shock absorbers1.7%
- Washers1.6%
- Brake pipes1.5%
- Wipers1.3%
- Track rod end1.3%
- Seat belt1.1%
- Number plate light0.9%
Share of tests with a failure on that part.
The most common failures
- Side light: not working1.9%
- Shock absorbers: has an excessively worn bush1.5%
- Brake light: not working1.4%
- Brake pipes: excessively corroded1.2%
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively1.1%
- Headlamp aim: too high0.9%
- Headlamp aim: too low0.9%
- Number plate light: inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.8%
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid0.8%
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick0.6%
What testers warn about
Advisories are things that passed this time but are wearing. They are the best guide to next year's bills.
- Brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material6.7%
- Engine oil: leak, but not excessive4.4%
- Shock absorbers: has a slightly worn bush3.6%
- Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened3.5%
- Tyre tread: worn close to legal limit/worn on edge3.3%
- Brake pads: wearing thin2.7%
- Tyre: slightly damaged/cracking or perishing2.4%
- Seat belt: webbing slightly damaged or frayed2.4%
What these figures can't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions test. These figures show how often the model fails that test. They say nothing about engines, gearboxes or electronics that break between tests, and how a car has been looked after matters more than its badge. The car you are looking at has its own MOT record, and that is the one to read.
Ask before you travel
- “Is there any play, knocking or stiffness in the steering?”
- “Do all the lights work, including the number plate lights and brake lights?”
- “When were the brake pads and discs last changed?”
- “Have any suspension parts been replaced, such as springs, ball joints or bushes, and can I see the invoice?”
Check a Land Rover Defender's own MOT record
Type the registration from the advert. You'll see every test that car has had, what it failed on and what it was warned about, free.
Where this comes from
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2024, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The counting is Hindsight's own.
First-attempt MOT tests of cars first used 2004 to 2021. A test counts as failed if it failed or only passed after a repair during the test. Retests are left out. Built on 13 November 2026.