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Land Rover 109 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Land Rover 109 car check

Is the Land Rover 109 reliable? We analysed 34,711 real MOT tests across 4,632 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 34,711 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
70.2%
Typical Mileage
51,749mi
Annual Mileage
625mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
66yrs

The Land Rover 109 is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid and stop lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Land Rover 109.

Land Rover 109 Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Land Rover 109. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Land Rover 109 MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Land Rover 109 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

71.7%
2003
67.2%
2002
66.3%
2001
68%
2000
69.3%
1999
65.8%
1998
75%
1997
70.7%
1996
74.5%
1995
78%
1994
66.3%
1992
72.2%
1991
81.5%
1990
73.5%
1989
71.7%
1988
67.8%
1987
70.9%
1986
70.2%
1985
69.7%
1984
67.4%
1983

Land Rover 109 Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Land Rover 109 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 2,564
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 1,754
Stop lamp not working 1,452
Vehicle structure has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of the body mountings 1,166
position lamp(s) not working 1,056
Brakes imbalanced across an axle 1,003
Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 936
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 871
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 817
brake binding 773

Land Rover 109 Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Land Rover 109 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
186 mi/yr
Typical
625 mi/yr
Average
1,736 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,751 mi/yr

Land Rover 109 MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Land Rover 109 year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 120 71.7% 27,098 49,584 60,320
2002 195 67.2% 21,247 36,963 61,850
2001 306 66.3% 37,989 55,160 72,169
2000 75 68.0% 32,234 46,005 70,514
1999 199 69.3% 35,462 62,446 79,511
1998 193 65.8% 26,295 43,243 80,622
1997 188 75.0% 22,652 50,776 63,312
1996 99 70.7% 35,462 48,978 52,494
1995 51 74.5% 7,684 30,802 36,562
1994 50 78.0% 44,546 56,064 93,453
1992 169 66.3% 46,987 60,172 84,323
1991 115 72.2% 24,240 39,859 47,630
1990 124 81.5% 35,434 53,381 70,556
1989 68 73.5% 24,375 52,975 84,431
1988 406 71.7% 20,440 42,477 69,427
1987 345 67.8% 38,180 63,066 90,067
1986 199 70.9% 42,640 53,503 75,634
1985 352 70.2% 34,927 55,470 82,377
1984 1,226 69.7% 25,672 54,280 77,214
1983 2,691 67.4% 22,690 54,344 79,202

How Long Does a Land Rover 109 Last?

Based on 4,632 Land Rover 109 vehicles on UK roads.

Average
35.6 years
Median
36.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
66 years

Land Rover 109 Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Land Rover 109 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
51,749 mi
75th Percentile
76,854 mi
95th Percentile
98,280 mi
Max Recorded
998,885 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Land Rover 109

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1990

81.5% MOT pass rate from 124 tests

Year to avoid
1980

65.6% MOT pass rate from 2,493 tests

The best year to buy a used Land Rover 109 is 1990, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 81.5% across 124 tests. The 1980 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.6% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Land Rover 109 Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Land Rover 109 THIS CAR 70.2% 34,711 51,749 mi 66 yrs
Land Rover Discovery 72.7% 4,388,972 108,947 mi 36 yrs
Land Rover Freelander 74.7% 4,326,495 85,110 mi 28 yrs
Land Rover Defender 72.3% 2,960,045 94,788 mi 43 yrs
Lancia Delta 76.1% 16,262 105,762 mi 39 yrs

Compared to the Land Rover Discovery (72.7% pass rate) and the Land Rover Freelander (74.7% pass rate), the Land Rover 109 trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Land Rover 109?

The Land Rover 109 has an overall MOT pass rate of 70.2% across 34,711 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Land Rover 109 are suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2,564 recorded failures), windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (1,754), and stop lamp not working (1,452). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Land Rover 109 owner drives around 625 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Land Rover 109 models stay on UK roads for around 66 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Land Rover 109 — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Land Rover 109 reliable?
Based on 34,711 MOT tests, the Land Rover 109 has a 70.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Land Rover 109?
The most common MOT failures are suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded, windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, and stop lamp not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Land Rover 109 do per year?
The typical Land Rover 109 does around 625 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Land Rover 109 last?
Most Land Rover 109 models stay on UK roads for around 66 years based on our analysis of 4,632 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Land Rover 109?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Land Rover 109?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Land Rover 109 is 1990 with a 81.5% pass rate across 124 tests.