Land Rover Defender MOT pass rate
In 2023, the Land Rover Defender passed 67.4% of its first MOT tests, from 102,536 tests in Great Britain. That is 4 points below the 71.4% average for all cars, taxis and light vans.
Most common Land Rover Defender MOT failures
The area that failed most often was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, affecting 18.2% of tests. The red line shows the average for all cars.
- Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment 18.2% vs 11.3%
- Suspension 9.9% vs 8.9%
- Brakes 9.0% vs 6.8%
- Steering 8.3% vs 1.8%
- Body, chassis, structure 7.7% vs 3.4%
- Visibility 7.0% vs 4.8%
- Noise, emissions and leaks 2.7% vs 3.1%
- Tyres 1.8% vs 6.3%
- Headlamp aim 4.8% vs 3.3%
- Position lamp 4.5% vs 2.8%
- Stop lamp 4.4% vs 2.2%
- Washers 4.2% vs 2.5%
- Shock absorbers 3.7% vs 1.1%
- Track rod end 3.2% vs 1.4%
- Wipers 3.1% vs 2.2%
- Rear fog lamp 3.0% vs 0.6%
Top reasons for failure
| Reason for failure | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Position lamp: Not working | 4.1% |
| Stop lamp: Not working | 3.1% |
| Shock absorbers: Has an excessively worn bush | 2.9% |
| Rear fog lamp: Not working | 2.7% |
| Wipers: Does not clear the windscreen effectively | 2.6% |
| Rigid brake pipes: Excessively corroded | 2.3% |
| Headlamp aim: Too high | 2.1% |
| Washers: Provides insufficient washer liquid | 1.9% |
| Registration plate lamp(s): Inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps | 1.8% |
| Headlamp aim: Too low | 1.7% |
Land Rover Defender pass rate by age
The pass rate changes with age: 78.6% for cars aged 6 to 9 years and 64.5% for those aged 15 years or more. Older cars usually fail more often because parts like suspension, brakes and exhausts wear with time and mileage.
- 6 to 9 years 78.6% vs 71.4%
- 10 to 14 years 69.4% vs 71.4%
- 15 years or more 64.5% vs 71.4%
Pass rate by fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 100,059 | 67.3% |
| Petrol | 2,337 | 70.0% |
Most common Land Rover Defender advisories
Advisories do not fail the test, but they often become failures by the next MOT. These were noted most often:
- Engine oil leaks 15.8%
- Rigid brake pipes 13.7%
- Seat belts: condition 8.9%
- Shock absorbers 8.0%
- Wheel bearings 7.6%
- Brake discs 7.5%
- Tyres: condition 6.1%
- Transmission oil leaks 5.3%
See MOT advisories explained for what to do about them.
How we worked this out
These figures come from DVSA's anonymised MOT testing data for 2023, covering every class 4 MOT test in Great Britain (cars, taxis and light vans). We count normal tests only, not retests. A test counts as a first-time pass if the vehicle passed without any repairs. Tests where defects were fixed at the test centre within an hour (PRS) count as fails, in line with DVSA's own statistics. Failure areas show the share of tests with at least one failure in that area, so the figures add up to more than the fail rate.
Other Land Rover models
- Land Rover Discovery (71.7%)
- Land Rover Range Rover Evoque (82.8%)
- Land Rover Freelander (66.1%)
- Land Rover Range Rover Sport (79.5%)
- Land Rover Discovery Sport (82.3%)
- Land Rover Range Rover (77.6%)
Similar popular models
Frequently asked questions
What is the MOT pass rate for the Land Rover Defender?
In 2023, 67.4% of Land Rover Defender MOT tests were passed first time, from 102,536 tests in Great Britain. The average for all cars, taxis and light vans was 71.4%.
What is the most common MOT failure on the Land Rover Defender?
The most common failure area was lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment, which caused 18.2% of tests to fail. Next came suspension (9.9%) and brakes (9.0%).
Is the Land Rover Defender reliable at its MOT?
Its first-time pass rate of 67.4% is 4 points below the average and ranks 69 of the 100 most-tested models. Age and mileage matter more than the model, so always check the history of the car you are buying.
How do I check a Land Rover Defender's MOT history?
Enter its registration in our free MOT history check. You will see every test, the mileage at each test and all failures and advisories.