Land Rover Defender MOT Check
MOT pass rates, common failures, and reliability data for the Land Rover Defender. Check any Defender by registration number below.
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74.8%
Avg Pass Rate
-12.7%
vs Land Rover Avg
38
Year Ranges
Average
Reliability
Land Rover Defender — MOT Reliability Overview
The Land Rover Defender has an average MOT pass rate of 74.8%, which is 12.7 percentage points below the Land Rover brand average of 87.4%. This is a reasonable result that reflects typical UK reliability standards. Regular servicing and addressing advisories promptly will help keep your Defender on the road.
The most common reasons a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT are number plate does not conform to the specified requirements, 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, an obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning. If you are preparing your Defender for its MOT, checking these areas first could save you a retest fee. Our detailed fault analysis includes estimated repair costs for each failure type.
Before buying a used Land Rover Defender, we recommend checking the full MOT history, write-off status, outstanding finance, and stolen vehicle status. These checks can be done for free using the registration number.
MOT Pass Rate by Year
How the Land Rover Defender performs at MOT across different model years.
2021
Based on 177 vehicles
0.0%
5.3%
75k mi
2020
Based on 195 vehicles
0.0%
4.0%
48k mi
2016
Based on 4,827 vehicles
1.9%
8.9%
2015
Based on 17,626 vehicles
2.2%
12.0%
83k mi
2014
Based on 14,884 vehicles
2.6%
15.2%
95k mi
2013
Based on 11,171 vehicles
3.0%
18.6%
100k mi
2012
Based on 9,764 vehicles
2.9%
19.9%
105k mi
2011
Based on 9,888 vehicles
4.1%
21.8%
2010
Based on 9,846 vehicles
3.9%
22.8%
2009
Based on 8,747 vehicles
4.4%
23.3%
2008
Based on 9,339 vehicles
3.9%
23.7%
2007
Based on 10,101 vehicles
4.2%
23.1%
2006
Based on 9,118 vehicles
4.8%
25.9%
2005
Based on 10,051 vehicles
5.1%
26.5%
2004
Based on 10,528 vehicles
5.4%
25.0%
2003
Based on 10,691 vehicles
5.3%
25.6%
2002
Based on 9,383 vehicles
5.2%
22.8%
2001
Based on 7,673 vehicles
5.7%
24.4%
2000
Based on 7,215 vehicles
5.3%
24.4%
1999
Based on 10,096 vehicles
3.1%
24.8%
1998
Based on 11,894 vehicles
3.1%
24.2%
1997
Based on 11,481 vehicles
3.2%
23.5%
1996
Based on 12,015 vehicles
3.2%
26.0%
1995
Based on 10,229 vehicles
3.0%
24.5%
1994
Based on 7,958 vehicles
3.5%
25.3%
1993
Based on 6,709 vehicles
2.9%
22.8%
1992
Based on 5,086 vehicles
3.3%
24.4%
1991
Based on 5,970 vehicles
2.5%
22.8%
1990
Based on 5,694 vehicles
3.2%
22.7%
1989
Based on 6,834 vehicles
3.2%
23.9%
1988
Based on 5,205 vehicles
3.4%
21.7%
1987
Based on 5,552 vehicles
3.0%
23.1%
1986
Based on 5,674 vehicles
3.4%
22.0%
1985
Based on 4,583 vehicles
2.6%
19.3%
1984
Based on 2,854 vehicles
2.8%
17.6%
1983
Based on 547 vehicles
1.6%
14.2%
1982
Based on 66 vehicles
0.0%
43.6%
0
Based on 132,856 vehicles
108k mi
Top MOT Failures — Land Rover Defender
The most common reasons a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT, aggregated across all year ranges.
Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements
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
An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Where Failures Occur
The areas of the vehicle most commonly flagged during MOT inspections.
Front Nearside
Front Offside
Other Land Rover Models
Compare MOT reliability across Land Rover models.
Land Rover R Rover Westmnstr Blck P400e A
91.7% pass rate
Land Rover R Rover Velar R-dyn Hse Mhev A
90.3% pass rate
Land Rover Discovery Hse Sd6 Auto
92.2% pass rate
Land Rover Range Rover
92.3% pass rate
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque R-dyn D A
87.5% pass rate
Land Rover Discovery Sport R-dyn Se D A
88.3% pass rate
Land Rover Defender — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Land Rover Defender MOT and reliability.
What is the MOT pass rate for the Land Rover Defender?
What are the most common MOT failures on a Land Rover Defender?
Is the Land Rover Defender reliable?
How do I check the MOT history of a Land Rover Defender?
What mileage should I expect on a Land Rover Defender?
Check Your Land Rover Defender's MOT History
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