Land Rover common problems and MOT failures
From 2,020,259 MOT tests in 2024, 13.4% of Land Rover vehicles failed. Below are the most common reasons, ranked by how often they occur.
Top Land Rover MOT failure reasons
| # | Problem | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | suspension pin, bush or joint worn | 45,215 |
| 2 | tyre seriously damaged | 29,076 |
| 3 | brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm | 23,917 |
| 4 | brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded | 19,963 |
| 5 | tyre tread depth outside legal limits | 19,384 |
| 6 | the aim of a headlamp is not within limits the requirements | 18,102 |
| 7 | wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen | 17,398 |
| 8 | suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc | 16,437 |
| 9 | lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning | 16,001 |
| 10 | tyre cords visible or damaged | 14,582 |
What this means if you're buying a Land Rover
The single most common MOT failure for Land Rover is suspension pin, bush or joint worn, accounting for 21% of all failure items. Suspension repairs typically cost £150–£400 depending on the component.
These figures are from real MOT inspections — they show what testers actually find wrong with Land Rover vehicles. If you're viewing a used Land Rover, it's worth checking these areas specifically.
Land Rover models by MOT pass rate
Lowest pass rates first — these models have the most testable issues.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Freelander | 220,735 | 78.6% |
| Defender | 205,902 | 78.8% |
| Discovery | 276,193 | 83.7% |
| Range Rover | 214,325 | 87.7% |
| Range Rover Evoque | 295,565 | 89.2% |
| Discovery Sport | 136,133 | 89.4% |
| Range Rover Sport | 314,750 | 89.5% |
| Range Rover Velar | 64,602 | 91.4% |
| Range Rover Evoque R-Dy Se D A | 10,671 | 91.7% |
| Range Rover Evoque R-Dyn S D A | 14,998 | 92% |
Buying a specific Land Rover? Check the individual vehicle's MOT history for free on GOV.UK to see its actual test results, advisories, and mileage readings.
Check MOT history on GOV.UK