Land Rover 109
From 491 MOT tests. Above average for its class.
Common MOT failure categories
Pass rate by fuel type
What goes wrong?
The most common MOT failure reasons are the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, the strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame and spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired. The top issue, the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, caused 28 failures in 2024. If you need repairs before retesting, sites like BookMyGarage let you compare local prices.
| the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements | 28 |
| a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 20 |
| 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 | 19 |
| service brake efficiency below minimum requirement | 18 |
| windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen | 17 |
| significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake | 17 |
| emissions levels exceed default limits | 16 |
| steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 13 |
| a spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened | 12 |
| stop lamps all missing or inoperative | 9 |
How serious are these failures?
Not all MOT failures are equal. 18.3% of 109 failures could actually strand you: fractured springs, engine faults, exhaust problems. Another 10.1% are safety issues where the car still drives but shouldn't, such as worn brakes, corroded brake pipes, and steering wear. When it does fail, the average repair bill is around £93.
Fuel type matters
Diesel versions pass at 83.8% while Petrol versions pass at 75.6%, a 8 percentage point gap.
Land Rover 109 on UK roads
The fleet is shrinking: 6 scrapped or exported in the past year with only 1 newly registered, a net loss of 5. Now at 36.8% of its peak (12,247 in 1994 Q4).
Quarterly breakdown
| Quarter | On road | SORN | New | Gone | Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q3 | 1,806 | 2,698 | +0 | -0 | +12 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,828 | 2,664 | +0 | -0 | +9 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,847 | 2,636 | +0 | -0 | +19 |
| 2024 Q4 | 1,858 | 2,606 | +1 | -6 | -5 |
| 2024 Q3 | 1,868 | 2,601 | +1 | -0 | +4 |
| 2024 Q2 | 1,865 | 2,600 | +2 | -0 | +8 |
| 2024 Q1 | 1,850 | 2,607 | +0 | -0 | +66 |
| 2023 Q4 | 1,784 | 2,607 | +0 | -0 | +20 |
3 variants on the road
| Variant | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109-4 Cyl | Petrol | 1,424 | 83% |
| 109-6 Cyl | Diesel | 238 | 14% |
| 109 V8 Regular | Petrol | 60 | 3% |
Source: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, 2025 Q3. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.
Typical mileage
Half of all 109s tested had between 18,375 and 73,997 miles on the clock.
At 52,797 median miles, the 109 has 0.039 failures per 10,000 miles driven.
Other Land Rover models
Common questions
What is the Land Rover 109 MOT pass rate?
The Land Rover 109 has a 79.4% MOT pass rate based on 491 real MOT tests. This is above the national average.
What are common MOT failures on a Land Rover 109?
The most common MOT failure on the Land Rover 109 is the aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, which caused 28 failures. Other common issues include a direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning.
How many Land Rover 109s are on UK roads?
There are 1,806 Land Rover 109s currently licensed on UK roads, with 2,698 on SORN.
What is the typical mileage of a Land Rover 109 at MOT?
The median mileage at MOT for a Land Rover 109 is 52,797 miles. The middle 50% of vehicles tested have between 18,375 and 73,997 miles.
Buying a used 109?
Start with the free tools. Look up the specific vehicle's MOT history on GOV.UK The mileage at each test will show if it's been wound back, and the advisory history tells you what's wearing. Cross-reference that against the typical failures above to see if anything looks unusual for this model.
The free data won't tell you about outstanding finance, theft markers, or write-off history. For that, you need a vehicle history check This is especially important on a private sale where you have fewer legal protections.
With a 79.4% pass rate and an average repair bill of £93 when things go wrong, budget accordingly.
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MOT data from DVSA anonymised test results, 2024 test year. Fleet data from DfT vehicle licensing statistics. Crown copyright, OGL v3.0. MOT pass rates are statistical summaries of test outcomes, not assessments of individual vehicle safety or condition. Always inspect a vehicle and check its full MOT history before purchasing. See terms of use.